With only two new cases of COVID-19, Agassiz and Harrison are seeing the lowest weekly case count since before the province began releasing numbers for local health areas.
Between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, the Agassiz-Harrison Local Health Area saw only two new cases of COVID-19. The lowest reported number before this was from Dec. 13 to 19, when there were five new cases.
This marks a continuing trend downwards from a high of 19 new cases at the beginning of January. After seeing only 95 cases in the entirety of 2020, Agassiz and Harrison saw 45 new cases in one month.
RELATED: Agassiz, Harrison see 95 COVID-19 cases since start of pandemic
The most recent week of data also included a reported exposure at the Shoppers Drug Mart in downtown Agassiz. A staff member at Shoppers tested positive for COVID-19 and Loblaws released the notice on Feb. 7. The last day that staff member worked was Feb. 4.
This most recent week of data also included the outbreak at Glenwood Seniors Community, now declared over.
The outbreak was declared on Jan. 26 when two staff members tested positive for COVID-19. As of the province’s weekly long-term care report, released on Feb. 4, those were the only two cases connected with the outbreak. More information is expected to be released today (Feb. 11).
SEE ALSO: COVID outbreak over at Agassiz long-term care home
In the eastern Fraser Valley, Agassiz and Harrison are seeing some of the lowest weekly numbers and weekly rate of new cases, along with Hope, which saw no new cases this week.
Weekly COVID-19 rates per 100,000 people is used to compare new cases in areas with different populations. The rate is calculated by dividing the new COVID-19 cases from the most recent census data for the local health area.
Because of the small size of the communities, tiny changes to the number of new COVID-19 cases can have fairly significant impacts on the weekly rate of new cases. One new case in Agassiz and Harrison can mean the difference between 62 cases per 100,000 people or 72 cases per 100,000 people.
Chilliwack is also following Agassiz and Hope’s trend downwards, but Mission and Abbotsford are seeing a slight bend upwards, after a few weeks of decreases.
The eastern Fraser Valley as a whole has seen one of the highest rates of cumulative cases in the province, second only to Fraser South which drove the bulk of the Fraser Valley’s COVID-19 cases throughout the winter.
RELATED: One in 50 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Fraser East
The province is asking individuals to get tested as soon as they have COVID-19-like symptoms, even mild ones.
The nearest testing sites for Agassiz and Harrison residents are in Chilliwack (9090 Newman Road), Hope (1275 7th Avenue) and Mission (7324 Hurd Street).
All sites accept adults and children over three months. Walk-ins are available on a first-come first-serve basis, but appointments are preferred.
COVID-19 testing appointments can be booked online through the Fraser Health website.Those needing help booking appointments can call the central intake number: 604-587-3936.
For more information about COVID-19, visit fraserhealth.ca/covid19.
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