New COVID-19 cases in Terrace increase by 15 compared to previous week

There were 29 new COVID-19 cases in the Terrace local health area (LHA) between April 11 and April 17, according to the latest data published by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). That is an increase of 15 new cases compared to the previous week.

The new figures keep the Terrace (LHA) at an average daily rate of 10.1-15 cases per 100,000 people.

There were five new cases in the Nass Valley. Those BCCDC figures for the Nass Valley may not match numbers self-reported by the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (NVHA), due to differences in how the two organizations track cases.

In the Prince Rupert LHA there were three new cases, one on Haida Gwaii, and 11 in the Kitimat LHA. The Nisga’a LHA is the only northwest LHA have an average daily rate of greater than 20 cases per 100,000 people.

As of April 22, there have been 63 total cases of COVID-19 variants recorded in the Northern Health Authority. Thirty-five of those cases are the B.1.1.7 variant which first emerged in the United Kingdom. There have been 27 cases of the P.1 variant associated with Brazil and one case of the B.1.351 variant which originated in South Africa.

The BCCDC listed a COVID-19 exposure on Air Canada/Jazz flight 8239 from Terrace to Vancouver on April 11. Rows 6-11 were affected.

Northern Health listed three recent school exposures for Terrace area schools on its public exposures and outbreaks webpage. There is an exposure listed for both Thornhill Elementary Elementary School and Thornhill Primary School between April 13 and April 15. Cassie Hall Elementary School has exposures listed for April 5 and April 6, and April 12 to April 16.

All adults in Terrace are eligible to register to book an appointment at Terrace’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic. After registering, the provincial government will contact people with information about booking an appointment. For the latest information on booking a vaccine appointment, visit Northern Health’s website.

Northern Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital’s patient care unit on Mar. 29. There have been three lab-confirmed cases among patients, and one staff case. Northern Health also declared a second outbreak at Acropolis Manor in Prince Rupert on April 4. Five residents have tested positive for COVID-19 in the West Pod.

Public health officials are moving to restrict travel between most of B.C.’s five regional health authorities and target communities with high infection rates for full-community vaccination. Police road checks at major highways and ferries between the health regions are to be targeted starting Friday, with Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal treated as a single region

-With Files from Tom Fletcher

READ MORE: B.C. sees 862 more COVID-19 cases Wednesday, seven deaths