in b.c., the seven-day average of covid-19 cases per 100,000 since late august has shown a dramatic and continuing increase for the northern health region, from above 30 to more than 50, a steady decline in interior health from above 30 to less than 15, a levelling at slightly above 10 for fraser health, and decline to less than 10 for both interior health and vancouver coastal health.
sarah otto, a university of b.c. epidemiologist, said b.c.’s numbers had been relatively steady for several weeks.
“basically, the goal is to bend the curve and make sure the curve doesn’t peak above your hospital capacity,” she said. “the death rate is roughly proportional to the case rate in that most of the cases are among the unvaccinated and most of the deaths are among the unvaccinated.”
she said there was nothing “at the moment” to concern her about the covid-19 numbers in b.c.
“as more people get vaccinated, the rate should come down of cases and deaths,” otto said.
she said what is likely to happen over the next six months to a year is different stages of waning immunity to covid-19.
if data shows infections and deaths growing out of control again, the public can expect to see periods of restrictions re-imposed, she said.