Following the worst spike of 2021 so far and nearly two months of double-digit weeks of COVID-19 cases, Agassiz-Harrison has experienced a sharp dropoff of infections.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) reported only four new cases of COVID-19 between Oct. 10 and 16, a sharp drop from 19 cases recorded the previous week. Agassiz-Harrison recorded the lowest number of COVID-19 cases in Fraser Health between Oct. 10 and 16.
So far in 2021, Agassiz-Harrison has recorded 334 cases of COVID-19 for an average of just over eight cases per week.
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The worst spike of the year so far occurred between Aug. 29 and Sept. 18. A total of 64 cases – or just over 19 per cent of this year’s total cases – occurred within the three-week period, peaking at 34 cases between Sept. 12 to 18.
There have been no new COVID-19 exposures in Fraser-Cascade School District 78 since Oct. 8; there have been five this year to date, all within Agassiz schools. There are no local public exposure events or outbreaks at this time.
Growth in vaccination rates is slow but steady. 77 per cent of the eligible population of Agassiz-Harrison (12 and older) has been fully vaccinated (up 1 per cent from last week). 58 per cent of 12-17-year-olds have been fully vaccinated (up 1 per cent). The 18-49 group saw the most growth with a 2 per cent bump since last week (now 66 per cent). The 50-plus age group continues to steadily inch toward 90 per cent full vaccination, reaching 87 per cent.
In terms of vaccination coverage, Agassiz-Harrison’s rates are among the highest in Fraser Health.
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Province-wide, the BCCDC continues to report that the majority of recent cases and hospitalizations remain among unvaccinated individuals. During the past week, 62 per cent of cases of COVID-19 were among unvaccinated individuals (6 per cent partially vaccinated and 32 per cent fully vaccinated). 73 per cent of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in the past week were unvaccinated (6 per cent partially vaccinated, 20 per cent fully vaccinated).
The BCCDC reports that based on the data over the course of the last four weeks, unvaccinated individuals are nine times more likely to contract COVID-19, 40 times more likely to be hospitalized and 41 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to fully vaccinated individuals.
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