By Roy L Hales
While the numbers have reached heights not seen since the beginning of this year across the province, COVID is retreating in North Vancouver Island.
On March 1st, there were 71 active cases; on March 24th Island Health reported 17.
Cropped image from BC Centre for Disease Control map of Local Health Areas for the week of March 14 – 20, 2021.
Is this a lull, before another wave hits North Island? Or a return to normalcy?
Greater Campbell River
There is one region that is unaffected. The epi-Week report for the week ending on Saturday March 20th shows 18 cases in the Greater Campbell River Health Area, the same number as last week.
There are two specific reports.
On March 12th, the Quadra Island Medical Clinic posted a notice that “Today Public Health have informed us of positive cases of Covid-19 on Quadra Island.”*
On March 18th, Penfield Elementary in Campbell River alerted parents that “a member of the school community has tested positive for COVID 19. . They are isolating and are being followed by Island Health. Dates of potential exposure in the school community occurred: March 15, 2021.”
Vaccinations: Quadra, Read & Cortes Islands
Vaccinations for Indigenous Quadra Island residents aged 65+ and non-Indigenous people aged 80+, started Monday.
The entire adult population of Read Island is eligible to receive vaccinations on March 31.
The whole island vaccination on Cortes Island start this morning, at Gorge Hall, and will continue until Saturday.
Answers about vaccines
In light of recent media attention, the Cortes Medical Clinic posted some answers about COVID vaccines on the Tideline. Here are some highlights:
“Health Canada has determined that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine meets the stringent, safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada.”
“Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are similar in their effectiveness in preventing COVID-19.”
“Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccine products require two does for the series. You will be contacted by a public health professional to schedule your second dose.”
In the letter it says this will take place after 35-42 days, but this has been amended to 4 months.
The review for AstraZeneca is not yet complete.
There is much more, including an explanation of how the vaccines work, in the letter.