It’s an unprecedented COVID-19 situation in the Comox Valley.
The community is currently experiencing the highest infection rates in all of B.C., as per the latest data from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
Between Nov. 21 and 27, a Local Health Area (LHA) map showed the Valley with 80 active cases of the virus per 100,000 people. But the week after, between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4, the cases more than doubled, climbing to 161.
Provincewide, that’s five cases more than the Central Okanagan and dozens more than Kamloops, which saw its rate peak at 114 during the same period.
And while the rates may not be as high in other island communities, both Campbell River and the North Island saw a slight uptick between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4.
Looking at the bigger picture, from Jan. 2020 to Nov. 2021, per 100,000 people, the Comox Valley, Campbell River and North Island saw a total of 996, 498 and 274 COVID-19 cases, respectively.
COVID-19 in local schools:
Island Health continues to warn of potential COVID-19 exposures in the classroom.
As of Thursday afternoon (Dec. 9), the health authorities ‘Potential Exposures in Schools List’ points to over 40 possible exposures at island schools.
Of that total, 12 schools are in the Comox Valley, with one each in Campbell River and Port Hardy. Potential exposure dates range from Nov. 22 to Dec. 2.
Find the complete list here.