While public health officials get ready to lift circuit-breaker lockdown measures and provincial COVID case counts continue their downward trend, cases on the Sunshine Coast are heading in the opposite direction.
The Sunshine Coast hit a four-month high of 18 confirmed cases from May 9 to 15, according to data released by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
It’s the largest weekly number of positive cases since the week starting Jan. 10 when 21 cases were confirmed.
The previous week, from May 2 to 8, saw a total of 10 cases on the Sunshine Coast.
The latest increase contrasts with Powell River, which has seen case counts dip from 11 in mid-April to one last week.
Intense vaccination efforts allowed Howe Sound cases to plummet from a record-shattering 410 in late March to just 14 last week, outperforming the Sunshine Coast for the first time since last December before the third wave hit.
In a social media statement following the release of BCCDC’s latest numbers, the Sunshine Coast Division of Family Practice said: “Let’s continue to stick to the current circuit breaker restrictions with the upcoming long weekend.”
Premier John Horgan, meanwhile, pointed to the province’s overall declining COVID-19 case counts and vaccine rollout when confirming May 20 that health restrictions on travelling around the province, and on dining inside restaurants will be lifted on May 25.
“Expect on Tuesday that the circuit breaker will be over, and a roadmap will be laid out for all British Columbians,” Horgan said. “This is great news.”
At 357 infections, the province hit its lowest daily total since Feb. 19.
In total, the province has provided 2.7 million vaccine doses to 2.5 million people, with 138,906 people being fully vaccinated with two doses.
– with files from Glen Korstrom
