Despite still being in double digits, Northern Health's COVID-19 positivity rate continues to fall.
With the authority sitting at roughly 17 per cent at the start of April, the region's seven-day moving average positivity rate is now 12.5 per cent as of Wednesday (April 21).
For comparison, Island Health is at 3.7 per cent, Interior Health is 6.5 per cent, Vancouver Coastal Health 9.2 per cent and Fraser Health at 11.4 per cent.
Provincially, the positivity rate sits just under 10 per cent at 9.4.
With high positivity rates still being recorded, new restrictions on travel across health authorities in British Columbia are in effect in the province as of today (April 23) and will last through May 25.
The ban on non-essential travel, as announced Friday by Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, generally splits the province into three regions consisting of some combined health authorities.
Under the new public health orders, Northern and Interior Health are unified as one region, as are Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health; Island Health stands alone, with some intra-region exceptions.
The restrictions, aimed at curbing further spread of COVID-19 within the province, are focused on recreational travel, according to Farnworth, and violating the ban will carry consequences.
Farnworth says those who break the restrictions can be subject to a $575 fine. Checks similar to the ICBC CounterAttack program will be strategically placed. #bcpoli #covidbc #covid19bc #cityofpg @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) April 23, 2021
Messaging for the past year in B.C. has been for people to "stay local," and that message remains the same, despite the wide geography the combined regions offer residents as far as sanctioned movement goes within their home or neighbouring health authority.
However, leaving your own area remains discouraged, said Farnworth, offering examples like hiking, where a North Shore resident is asked to go for hikes at Grouse, and a Tri-Cities resident is asked to stick to Burke Mountain.
However, there are some "reasonable exemptions," said Farnworth for what would take someone out of their home health authority region.
"We've all made great sacrifices to protect our collective health and to keep our healthcare system functioning safely. While I'm disappointed, additional measures are necessary," he said.
If compliance measures are deemed necessary by police, fines can be handed out. At the discretion of police, a contravention of this Emergency Program Act travel order may be subject to a $575 fine.
Stops will NOT be random. Checks similar to the CounterAttack program will be set up at ferry terminals and highway corridors that connect different regions. #bcpoli #covidbc #covid19bc #cityofpg @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/gIxLWCZV3A
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) April 23, 2021
As of this publication, Northern Health has a recorded total of 6,937 cases since the pandemic arrive in the region on March 14, 2020.
There are currently 219 active cases in the north with 22 people hospitalized, nine of which are in critical care or ICU.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) says 136 lives in Northern Health have been lost due to the virus.
- with files from Lindsay William-Ross and Elana Shepert, Vancouver Is Awesome
