There's good news when it comes to Burnaby's COVID-19 fight.
According to the latest data update from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), all four quadrants have seen decreases in case rates and positivity rates since the last report.
The updated numbers are for Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, 2021.
In provincial news, B.C.’s latest mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 has topped 500,000 booster doses administered across the province.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said Tuesday the 505,070 jabs puts the province ahead of schedule.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, also confirmed that four cases of the new COVID-19 variant known as Omicron were identified over the past weekend. This brings B.C.’s case total to five.
Three of the five cases reported in B.C. so far hit fully vaccinated people. All five cases are tied to people who had recently travelled internationally.
Henry added there are other “suspect and pending” COVID-19 cases that will likely turn out to be tied to the Omicron variant.
“It seems like we’re on this never-ending uncertainty,” Henry said, acknowledging such uncertainty over this new variant can be causing stress, anxiety and depression for many British Columbians.
“They’ve all been mild cases or asymptomatic cases.”
She said the cases were detected during random screenings at the airport and added that “clearly, clearly people should be vaccinated before they travel.”
It remains unclear to what degree vaccines remain effective against the new variant as the recent breakthrough cases in B.C. represent an extremely small sample size.
“This booster may be enough to get us through the next respiratory season or longer,” Henry said.
“Looking at the way this virus has mutated and changed over time, what we need to do is focus on immunizing other parts of the world.”
She said she does not intend to introduce more restrictions during the holiday season.
Case rates are new cases per 100,000 people by local health area and community health service area.
BURNABY NORTHWEST
- Case rate: 2
- Positivity rate: 1%
- Vaccination coverage (first dose) of those 12 years of age and older: 96%
- Vaccination coverage (second dose) of those 12 years of age and older: 94%
BURNABY NORTHEAST
- Case rate: 3
- Positivity rate: 3%
- Vaccination coverage (first dose) of those 12 years of age and older: 96%
- Vaccination coverage (second dose) of those 12 years of age and older: 94%
BURNABY SOUTHWEST
- Case rate: 2
- Positivity rate: 2%
- Vaccination coverage (first dose) of those 12 years of age and older: 95%
- Vaccination coverage (second dose) of those 12 years of age and older: 92%
BURNABY SOUTHEAST
- Case rate: 2
- Positivity rate: 1%
- Vaccination coverage (first dose) of those 12 years of age and older: 93%
- Vaccination coverage (second dose) of those 12 years of age and older: 90%
- with files from Tyler Orton, Business In Vancouver
