Sun Peaks has recorded 23 COVID-19 cases in the last few days following the closure of the resort on Apr. 4 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

SUN PEAKS COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Sun Peaks holding at 23 positive COVID-19 cases, Interior Health feels it’s ‘fairly contained’

Apr 12, 2021 | 4:41 PM

KAMLOOPS — Driving into Sun Peaks, there are warning signs everywhere, ensuring people know there’s COVID-19 in the community — with 23 known cases to date.

“It’s a huge, huge number. It’s not like some of the outbreaks we’ve had in other communities, but it’s a concern,” said Sun Peaks mayor Al Raine. “We had 15 overnight one night. We’ve only had 17 I think all year.”

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced the Sun Peaks Health Centre to close and move to virtual appointments.

The good news is all the tests in the last 24 hours were negative, but Raine worries about the people who came from other resorts and are now home. Interior Health is keeping a close eye on the situation.

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“So far, it appears that it’s fairly contained within certain social groups and people who live together, which is very reassuring,” said IH Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton. “What we’re asking people to do is continue to follow all public health measures, and that includes avoiding non-essential travel, not socializing with anyone outside your household.”

Raine says as the ski season was winding down people relaxed and had a little too much fun.

“There’s no question that in the last 10 days of the season, people were starting to get into the festive mood, the season winding up and celebrating that,” he said. “I think people let their guard down, just a little, and it’s all it takes.”

Meanwhile, residents of Sun Peaks are well aware of the risks in a smaller community and are trying to stay vigilant.

“Not too concerned. I think everyone in the community are respectful of the protocols. That kind of makes me feel comfortable as well,” said resident Hallie Stafford. “We stay at home and isolate quite well, both of us work from home at the moment, so I feel okay about it.”

The resort municipality, like many communities across B.C., will be vaccinated soon — from May 4-7 for Sun Peaks residents 18 years and older.

There are some in the community who feel, in the wake of a COVID-19 outbreak at Big White, that Sun Peaks should have been vaccinated sooner to prevent such an outbreak. However, Fenton says it would have meant bumping others who had booked their vaccinations already.

“It’s really hard at this point to alter our vaccine planning because all of the doses we are receiving are accounted for — for all the appointments that have been made,” noted Dr. Fenton. “To alter that course is very challenging at this point and would mean diverting vaccine from those who have already made appointments.”