The Smithers Local Health Area (LHA) recorded two confirmed cases of COVID-19 from Nov, 29 - Dec. 5.
Data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control for LHAs previously only published monthly is now being updated weekly.
At the end of November, the total case count for Smithers LHA (Houston to Witset) from January was 52, up 10 from end of November. The represents a levelling off from October when Smithers LHA numbers more than doubled from 19 to 42.
Caseloads in surrounding Northwest Health Service Delivery Area LHAs for the first week of December included Terrace 15, Nisga’a 10, Kitimat 4, Burns Lake 3, Prince Rupert 3 and Upper Skeena 1. The Snow Country Telegraph Creek and Stikine LHAs reported no cases.
READ MORE: B.C. records 28 deaths due to COVID-19, 723 new cases
Meanwhile, the CDC published the latest data for the Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDA) of which there are three in Northern Health Authority (NHA). From Dec. 4 to 10, the Northwest HSDA saw 53 new cases compared to 129 in the Northern Interior HSDA, and 37 in the Northeast HSDA.
High numbers in the Northern Interior are in part due to a major outbreak in the community of Fort St. James that now numbers at least 60 cases and led to the province deploying a major incident rapid response paramedic team to the district.
In total, from January to Dec. 10, the Northwest HSDA has reported 255 cases, Northern Interior HSDA has reported 604, and the Northeast HSDA has reported 340.
Since Dec. 4, there have been 271 new cases reported by the NHA, with 43 currently hospitalized and 14 in critical care.
There are 402 active cases at this time and throughout the pandemic, NHA has seen 1,199 cases total, with 788 recovered and nine deaths.
On Thursday, the province recorded its deadliest day so far with 28 new deaths.
- with files from Clare Rayment
editor@interior-news.com
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