COVID cases rise the further east of Rainbow Summit you travel

Today's Local Health data release from the BC CDC shows that the concerns over the Northern Health region are quite valid, with communities along the Highway 16 corridor shaded in the darker colours of high case counts for the last seven days.

For Prince Rupert the week was once again a mostly positive one, with only five cases to report from the information period, that amount an increase of three from last week. 

But travel ninety minutes east and the rising count of COVID is on display from the Terrace/Kitimat region through the Bulkley Valley and on to Prince George, with the North's largest city recording 280 new cases in the last seven days.

The full review across the region looks as follows:

Nechako -- 95 cases
Smithers -- 68 cases

Burns Lake -- 31 cases

Upper Skeena --  24 cases

Terrace -- 23 cases

Kitimat -- 17 cases

Prince Rupert --  5 cases

Bella Coola Valley -- 3 cases
Snow Country-Stikine- Telegraph Creek -- 3 cases
Nisga'a Region -- 1 case

Haida Gwaii -- 1 case

Central Coast -- 0 cases

Wednesday's provincial report lists 182 new cases for Northern Health, 915 Active cases.

There are currently 81 residents of the North hospitalized from COVID , with 13 listed as requiring Critical Care.

As well, as Health Minister Adrian Dix outlined earlier this week, the pressures on the Northern Health system have resulted in more than 25 transfers of patients to points south and the cancellation of other surgeries at many of the health facilities in the Northern Health Region.

BC CDC COVID data results for Wednesday September 29, 2021

The full report from the Province for Wednesday can be accessed here. 

The larger BC CDC Data release is available here.

Past information statements on COVID and other notes on the Northwest response can be reviewed from our archive page.