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Prince George’s local health area only recorded three COVID-19 cases in August

Peace River North a big contributor to Northern Health’s recent spike
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
covid19
COVID-19. (via Glacier Media)

It appears Prince George is doing a somewhat decent job when it comes to stopping any great spread of COVID-19.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) latest numbers, the city’s local health area had just three positive tests for the virus throughout the month of August.

It’s year-to-date total now sits at 36 since the pandemic hit the region in March.

Thanks to the BCCDC’s new graphic, we also now have a clear picture on Northern Health’s COVID-19-case spike last month.

Peace River North recorded 42 new cases in August, soaring from 13 at the end of July to 55 to-date.

This is likely a result of the religious gathering that took place in Deadwood, Alta. July 30 to Aug. 2 as the testing incubation period runs every two weeks.

On Aug. 17, Northern Health declared a public exposure event as a result of 12 virus-linked cases among residents who attended the prayer and worship conference, some of which were potentially from Fort St. John.

That exposure event has since been declared over as well as one in the Prespatou region, where multiple gatherings may have taken place that potentially contributed to the spike.

More cases, however, may be on the way for Prince George’s local health area by the end of September.

In it’s latest two-week graphic (Sept. 4 to 17), the northern interior, which stretches from Prince George to Valemount, Quesnel and Burns Lake, recorded 26 positive tests for COVID-19, totalling 69 since Jan. 1.

COVID 19 BCCDC report - Sept4 - Sept17BC Centre for Disease Control's Health Service Delivery area map from Sept. 4 to 17, 2020. (via BCCDC)

Northern Health now has the second-lowest number of cases in B.C. at 255, as of Monday’s (Sept. 21) update from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, behind Island Health at 203.

To date, a little more than six per cent of the north has been tested for the virus, the BCCDC’s COVID-9 dashboard reads, with only 17,819 tests out of nearly 286,000 residents per Northern Health’s 2019-10 population numbers.

Currently, there are two potential COVID-19 exposures in northern B.C. schools, one in Dawson Creek and one in Quesnel.

COVID-19 local health area map - Sept. 22, 2020BC Centre for Disease Control's local health area map from January to August 2020. (via BCCDC)