Agassiz and Harrison have seen another three cases of COVID-19 in the last week, the lowest amount in the eastern Fraser Valley.
Between Feb. 14 and Feb. 20, the Agassiz-Harrison Local Health Area saw three cases of COVID-19, the same as the week before. The area’s numbers have been relatively stable for the month of February so far, and had seen major declines in January after reaching a high of 19 cases in the new year.
RELATED: Agassiz-Harrison area sees 19 COVID-19 cases in seven days
However, cases in the eastern Fraser Valley as a whole are on the rise, due largely to increasing cases in Mission and Chilliwack, as well as Hope, which has seen six cases this week.
In the past few weeks, case numbers in the eastern Fraser Valley have been relatively stable. The most recent data from the BCCDC for Fraser East shows the region has been staying around 300 cases a week for the past four weeks.
RELATED: Eastern Fraser Valley staying around 300 new COVID-19 cases each week
Daily numbers show Fraser East has been seeing an increase from the beginning of the month, going from an average of 45 cases in early February to around 51 cases now.
The weekly rate of new cases for many communities in the eastern Fraser Valley has been going up. Chilliwack, Mission and Hope have all seen increases in their weekly rate of cases per 100,0000 people — the best method of comparing case numbers in communities of different sizes — although Abbotsford has seen a decrease.
The Agassiz-Harrison area is the only one to maintain its weekly rate, and is currently seeing the lowest rate of new cases each week at 31 cases per 100,000 people.
Although new COVID-19 cases remain small locally, other parts of the province are seeing significant increases, including in the Fraser North region, which includes Maple Ridge, the Tri-Cities and Burnaby. Variants are causing some concern about the possibility of greater transmission in communities.
RELATED: Top doctor ‘dreading’ possibility that COVID variants will take off in B.C.
The province is asking individuals to get tested as soon as they have COVID-19-like symptoms, even mild ones.
The nearest testing sites for Agassiz and Harrison residents are in Chilliwack (9090 Newman Road), Hope (1275 7th Avenue) and Mission (7324 Hurd Street).
All sites accept adults and children over three months. Walk-ins are available on a first-come first-serve basis, but appointments are preferred.
COVID-19 testing appointments can be booked online through the Fraser Health website.Those needing help booking appointments can call the central intake number: 604-587-3936.
For more information about COVID-19, visit fraserhealth.ca/covid19.
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