Six people were confirmed to have been diagnosed with COVID-19 on the Sunshine Coast between Feb. 28 and March 6.
That’s the highest weekly number on the Coast since the last week of January, when four cases were reported by BC Centre for disease Control (BCCDC).
Meanwhile, neighbouring local health areas continue to see a decrease in cases.
From Feb. 28 to March 6 there were no cases identified in Powell River and the Howe Sound local health area had 32 confirmed cases.
Vaccinations for the general public, meanwhile, are set to start on the Sunshine Coast next week, beginning with Gibsons Branch 109 on March 16. Immunizations will start at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre on March 17 and at Madeira Park’s Legion, Branch 112, on March 19.
Appointments can be booked by calling 1-877-587-5767. Currently people aged 80 and above are eligible, as well as Indigenous people 65 years and older.
Phase 3 is expected to start in April, allowing people aged 79 to 60 to book appointments, as well as people between the ages of 69 and 16 who are “clinically extremely vulnerable,” according to B.C.’s Ministry of Health.
As the immunization program rolls out, B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced March 11 that, effective immediately, groups of up to 10 people are allowed to gather outside.
“This is slowly turning the dial, not flicking the switch,” Henry said during the Thursday media briefing.
She also revealed that restaurants and pubs would be facing additional restrictions on St. Patrick’s Day.
Sales of alcohol will be suspended from 8 p.m. March 17 through to 9 a.m. March 18 for consumption both on-site and off-site, however there will be some “caveats,” she said, around meal provisions and how late bars and restaurants can stay open.
On March 11, there were 569 new cases reported in the province over 24 hours, with 244 hospitalized and three deaths.
As of Thursday 366,791 B.C. residents have received at least their first dose of vaccine.
“Our plan for the next few weeks is straightforward,” said a joint statement from Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. “Keep using our layers of protection and following the orders and restrictions. If you are seeing others, stay small and it must be outside. ‘Few faces, open spaces and safety layers in place’ are what we need to put COVID-19 behind us.”
– with files from Tyler Orton
