COVID-19 case counts in New Westminster have dropped for the third week running.
Between May 15 and 21, the city saw 16 new COVID cases in the official public count, down from 19 new cases the week before. The decline follows a surge in April that saw local case counts hit a 10-week high.
Official public case counts don't reflect the actual number of COVID-19 cases in B.C., since the vast majority of people have not been eligible for testing since the beginning of 2022, when case counts shot up dramatically in the face of the original Omicron wave.
Though the raw number may mean relatively little, the local trend line is worth noting — and it's a positive one.
The case numbers in New Westminster had been steadily declining from January until April, but then spiked again. Now, with the three-week decline, it appears the number of cases is on the way down again.
Provincewide, the news also appears to be positive. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in B.C. has fallen by 67 in the past week, to 473 — the fewest since April 14, according to government data for today (May 26). Of those, 42 people are sick enough to be in intensive care units (ICUs), which is down by seven in the past week, and is the lowest since May 5.
Metro Vancouver test positivity rates coming down
As of the latest BCCDC COVID data, test positivity in New Westminster stood at 13% — down from 19% last week and 20% the week before that.
New West is faring better than three of four quadrants in neighbouring Burnaby, where the northwest sits at 16%, the southeast at 19% and the southeast at 24%. Only northeast Burnaby, at 9%, is doing better.
Positivity rates are mixed in the Tri-Cities, with Port Moody/Anmore/Belcarra and Southwest Coquitlam both at 12% compared to North Coquitlam's 18%, Southeast Coquitlam's 20% and Port Coquitlam's 22%.
South of the river, Surrey continues to fare well, with Whalley at 9%, North Surrey at 11% and Guildford at 12%.
Who can get a COVID-19 PCR test in B.C.?
Testing for COVID-19 is only available to those who meet the eligibility criteria.
According to the Fraser Health website (as of the latest update May 16), testing is recommended for people who have symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection and who fall into one of the following categories:
- People for whom testing is clinically indicated (people who are pregnant, hospitalized or moderately to severely immunocompromised).
- People with conditions that put them at high risk.
- People 70 years of age or older who are fully vaccinated, with three or more chronic conditions that increase the risk of severe illness or hospitalization.
- People 50 years of age and older who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and who have three or more chronic conditions that increase the risk of severe illness or hospitalization; or people 50 to 69 years of age who have not yet received their booster dose and have three or more chronic conditions that increase the risk of severe illness or hospitalization; or people age 70 years and older who have not yet received their booster dose and have one or more chronic conditions that increase the risk of severe illness or hospitalization.
- Individuals who self-identify as Indigenous.
- Individuals who live or work in high-risk settings.
Where can I get a COVID-19 rapid test in B.C.?
If you aren't eligible for public testing but you want to know if you have COVID-19, rapid antigen tests are available for free through participating community pharmacies for all adults aged 18+.
To find a New Westminster pickup point near you, check out this list by neighbourhood.
Students in kindergarten-to-Grade 12 schools around B.C. have also been given one five-test kit apiece through their schools.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is no longer collecting reports of positive cases from at-home tests, so rapid test results are not reflected in official case counts or positivity numbers.
— with files from Glen Korstrom
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca.
