Kamloops, Penticton and Vernon among areas to report increase in COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 case numbers have surged in Vernon, Kamloops, Penticton, the South Okanagan and elsewhere as the Interior remains a hotspot for the virus in Canada.

The latest BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) data show positive developments in some areas of the region, however, with the Central Okanagan among them.

Case numbers in the Central Okanagan dropped again in the Aug. 22–28 figures, to 511 – down from 737 in the Aug. 15–21 data.

The latest numbers also look positive for Nelson, which has seen a dramatic decrease in cases – from 153 to 71.

Other highlights from the new figures include:

• Kamloops: 249 cases (up from 193)

• Vernon: 263 cases (up from 133)

• Penticton: 69 cases (up from 43)

• South Okanagan: 53 cases (up from 22)

• Golden: 38 cases (up from 23)

• Cranbrook: 69 cases (up from 56)

• Salmon Arm: 93 cases (up from 79)

• Grand Forks: 39 cases (up from 18)

• Revelstoke: 3 cases (down from 24)

• Enderby: 19 cases (down from 28)

• Castlegar: 27 cases (down from 33)

The area with the highest daily average case rate in the Interior – and the entire province – is Kettle Valley, with 83 per 100,000 people.

Other areas with high daily case rate averages include:

• Golden: 74

• Grand Forks: 65

• Vernon: 48

• Salmon Arm: 35

• Central Okanagan: 32

• Southern Okanagan: 31

• Kamloops: 29

• Penticton: 19

At a more local level, average daily case rate highlights include:

• Downtown Kelowna: 38

• Glenmore: 36

• North Okanagan/Lumby: 62

• Lake Country: 20

• West Kelowna: 27

• Okanagan Mission: 31

• Kamloops Centre North: 37

• Kamloops Centre South: 20

The area with the lowest rate of full vaccination in the Interior is Enderby, with 57 per cent coverage.

Revelstoke has the highest rate at 77 per cent.

Penticton has 75 per cent coverage, Kamloops 73 per cent, the Central Okanagan 72 per cent and Vernon 69 per cent.

Nationally, both Alberta and Ontario have surged past BC in overall case numbers.

Calgary and Edmonton are now reporting the highest number of cases, with Interior Health the third-worst affected health authority as of Sept. 1.

See the full BC data here.