Howe Sound COVID-19 cases the highest they have been since spring

The Howe Sound region, like the rest of B.C., has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases. 

According to BC Centre for Disease Control data released Wednesday, there were 125 cases of COVID-19 from Dec. 12 to the 18th. 

That is the highest our region has seen since mid-April when there were 131 cases reported. 

Howe Sound stretches from Lions Bay to Lillooet. 

Data for smaller communities like Squamish is not released.

Last week, Dec. 5 to 11, there were 20 reported cases. 

Nov. 28 to Dec. 4, there were 40 cases. 

This week, Squamish's Sea to Sky Division of Family Practice testing site reported on its Facebook page that it was seeing "unprecedented numbers" of folks going for COVID-19 tests. 

The site was turning people away as it was becoming dangerous to have so many cars lined up into Government Road. 

"We are grateful for the patience everyone exhibited while waiting — thank you for understanding. Thank you too, to the [Vancouver Coastal Health] staff, our local physicians, Tantalus Security and Squamish RCMP for coming to our aid," the post reads. "Squamish, we need your help: for the safety of the community and everyone trying to assist you, we ask you to not sit on Government Road waiting to access the site." 

Provincially, there has been a spike in cases as well, with the numbers on Wednesday breaking the all-time daily record with 1,474 new cases, according to government stats.

School exposures

Two independent schools remain on the Vancouver Coastal Health possible exposure list: 

At Squamish Waldorf School, there were potential exposures from Nov. 15 to 18 and from Nov. 23 to 25. 

At Skyridge Montessori School, potential exposures occurred Nov. 8 to 10 and Nov. 22 to 23.

This does not mean other schools did not have potential exposures. The VCH list only includes potential exposures in schools with an "increased risk of ongoing transmission."

Schools are removed from the list four weeks after the date of the last possible exposure.

Vaccines

As of Dec. 20, 94% of those 12 years old or older had received their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 98% have received their first dose and 11% had received their third, booster dose. 

For kids five to 11 years old, 36% had received their first vaccine. 

Provincially, 91.8% of adults are partially vaccinated, 88.9% fully vaccinated and 16% have had booster shots.

To date in B.C., 2,409 people have died from COVID-19. In Canada, there have been 30,113 deaths to date.

The last Vancouver Coastal Health vaccination clinic, held at Quest University Campus, was Dec. 22. 

The next clinic opens Jan. 5. 

The Squamish Chief asked VCH why, given the rising cases, they were not hosting any clinics in town over the holidays. 

The health authority said it "will continue to monitor and adjust clinic dates and hours of operation throughout the holidays based on staffing and the number of appointments."

A spokesperson referred readers to the VCH website for a list of available clinics in communities across the VCH health authority. 

This page is updated as further clinic dates are confirmed.

"Eligible residents are welcome at all available clinics across VCH. We are committed to ensuring all residents who are deemed eligible for vaccination will have the opportunity to get their vaccine," the spokesperson said.

~With files from Chuck Chiang/Glacier Media