New Westminster has one of the worst COVID-19 test positivity rates in Metro Vancouver – but case counts have gone down since the beginning of March.
The latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, for the week of March 18 to 24, shows test positivity in New Westminster at 16%. That's a shade higher than the 15% it hit in the first week of March.
New West's positivity rate is higher than neighbouring municipalities. Burnaby, for instance, has dropped to positivity rates of 3% in the southeast, 6% in the northwest, 8% in the southwest and 10% in the northeast. Coquitlam, meanwhile, had positivity rates of 3% for the north, 10% for the southeast and 14% for the southwest. Across the river, rates are also lower in Surrey (Whalley 7%, Guildford 9%, North Surrey 12%).
A few areas of Metro Vancouver are worse off, however – with West Point Gray/Dunbar hitting 33%, UBC at 21% and Richmond's Thompson-Seafair at 25%.
When it comes to case counts, New Westminster's numbers have improved since the beginning of March. Last week (March 18 to 24) the city saw 19 new cases, for a daily case rate of 3 per 100,000 population. For the first week of March (March 1 to 7), that number stood at 28, or 5/100,000.
That number is not reflective of the actual number of COVID-19 cases in the city, since the vast majority of people are no longer eligible for testing. The trend line, however, has been on a downward trend since January – between Jan. 4 and 10, the city saw 303 new cases.
Who qualifies for COVID-19 PCR testing in B.C.?
Testing at public health sites is available only to those who meet the eligibility criteria.
The Fraser Health website, as of March 28, notes that testing is recommended for people who have symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection and who meet one of the following criteria:
- 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.?
For all other people wanting a COVID-19 test, rapid antigen tests are now 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 have also been given one five-test kit apiece through their schools.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
