she said it’s important to continue to encourage vaccinations in b.c.
vaccination rates of first doses have slowed in b.c. in the first three weeks of july, an additional 2.6 per cent of those 12 and under have been vaccinated. in june, that number was 10.5 per cent.
ubc epidemiologist sarah otto said it seems clear that there has not been as big an increase in cases as would have been expected from removing covid-19 restrictions.
she believes that’s because many british columbians continue to practise safety measures such as wearing masks indoors in public spaces although they no longer have to.
she noted that google mobility data shows there has not been a big increase in interactions after july 1.
“so, i think if we’re seeing an uptick, it’s not that fast,” said otto, a ubc zoologist who specializes in mathematical modelling.
jens von bergmann, a partner in vancouver-based mountainmath, which specializes in data analysis and modelling, commented on social media earlier this week that cases aren’t declining any more and the province is in what looks like a growth scenario again.
however, in an interview, von bergmann said what is needed is better information on what role variants are playing in the rise, particularly the delta variant.