New West saw 22 officially registered new cases between April 10 and 16 – up from 19 the previous week.
The official number of COVID-19 cases in New Westminster rose slightly last week, but positive test results remain stable.
Between April 10 and 16, 22 new cases of COVID-19 were registered in the city, up from 19 last week.
BC continues to face the effects of the sixth wave of COVID-19, powered by the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant. COVID hospitalizations are increasing across the province, but critical care admissions remain stable. Local breakdowns are not available for hospital admissions, so it is not known how many of New Westminster’s 22 new cases, if any, involve hospitalization.
This number does not reflect the actual number of COVID-19 cases in the city, as most people do not qualify for testing since early 2022, when the number of cases increased dramatically in the face of the original Omicron wave. However, the New Westminster trend line has generally been on a downward trajectory since January; for comparison, between 4 and 10 January, 303 new cases were registered in the city.
According to the latest data from the Center for Disease Control in British Columbia, the positive results of the test in New Westminster amounted to 14%, as in the last two reporting periods.
This 14% positivity rate keeps New Westminster on par with neighboring areas of the Lower Continent.
South of the North Delta is 11%, North Surrey – 12%, Guildford – 14% and Wally – 17%.
Meanwhile, Burnaby has percentages of 15% in the southwest quadrant, 16% in the northwest, 17% in the southeast and 25% in the northeast.
Meanwhile, in Tri-Cities the levels of positivity vary considerably depending on the region: 17% in Southwest Coquitlam, 30% in Southeast Coquitlam, 29% in North Coquitlam and 16% in Port Moody / Anmore / Belkara.
Who can get a PCR test for COVID-19 in British Columbia?
Testing for COVID-19 is available to those who meet the eligibility criteria.
According to the Fraser Health website (as of April 12), testing is recommended for people who have symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection and who meet one of the following criteria:
- people for whom the test is clinically indicated (people who are pregnant, hospitalized or with moderate to severe immunocompromise).
- people with conditions that put them at high risk.
- people 70 years of age or older who have been fully vaccinated, with three or more chronic conditions that increase the risk of serious illness or hospitalization.
- people aged 50 and over who have not been vaccinated or partially vaccinated and who have three or more chronic conditions that increase the risk of serious illness or hospitalization; or people aged 50 to 69 who have not yet received their booster dose and have three or more chronic conditions that increase the risk of serious illness or hospitalization; or people aged 70 and over who have not yet received their booster dose and have one or more chronic conditions that increase the risk of serious illness or hospitalization.
- persons who self-identify as locals.
- persons living or working in high-risk conditions.
Where can I get a quick test for COVID-19 in British Columbia?
If you do not qualify for public testing, but want to know if you have COVID-19, rapid antigen tests are available free of charge at participating public pharmacies for all adults aged 18+.
To find a pick-up point in New Westminster near you, check out this list by neighborhood.
Pupils in kindergarten to 12th grade schools around British Columbia also received one set of five tests through their schools.
The BC Centers for Disease Control no longer collects positive case reports from home tests.
Follow Julie McClellan on Twitter @juliemacellan. Email Julie, jmacellan@newwestrecord.ca.
Add Comment