Northern B.C. still holds the highest COVID-19 positivity rate, but it has seen a decline.
While cases continue to rise, the seven-day moving average positivity rate has dipped to 13.2 per cent but still remains the only health authority to be in double digits as of Feb. 17, 2021.
For comparison, Island Health currently sits at 2.4 per cent, Vancouver Coastal Health is at six per cent, Fraser Health is at 7.7 per cent and Interior Health comes in at 4.8 per cent.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry warned earlier this week there is a concern as moving averages and case numbers are seeing a rise across the province due to increased interactions.
"While the overall number of new cases has slowly been coming down and is lower than it was a few weeks ago, it is still very high, much higher than we want it to be.
"The tide can turn quickly and successes we have in getting our transmission down and preventing outbreaks can also be washed away."
Yesterday (Feb. 18), B.C. saw its highest single-day case count since the beginning of January with 617 newly recorded cases while Henry also pointed specifically to the northern area of the province as it continues its struggle.
"We remind everyone about the importance of using all of our layers of protection: maintaining a safe distance from others, washing our hands regularly, staying home when we are ill, using a mask in all public spaces and having robust COVID-19 safety plans in all businesses," she said in a statement.
"Equally important is the need to ensure you are following all province-wide public health orders and restrictions - especially with the uptick in cases in the Lower Mainland and northern region."
As of this publication (Feb. 19), Northern Health has a recorded total of 4,227 cases since March of last year.
There are 316 active cases with 28 people currently hospitalized, nine of which are in critical care.
A total of 102 people have lost their lives from the virus.
Dr. Henry is scheduled to provide an in-person update on B.C.'s COVID-19 situation at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
- with files from The Canadian Press
