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By Dylana Kneeshaw

COVID-19 UPDATE

COVID transmission rates stable in Kamloops; wastewater monitoring may help track virus in future

Apr 11, 2022 | 4:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — While COVID cases are climbing in the eastern part of the country, so far B.C.’s Interior hasn’t experienced a sixth wave spike.

COVID-19 transmission is still active in Kamloops and new outbreaks have been reported at long term care homes, but Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton says the local activity is stable for now.

And to gauge what the Interior could be facing nearby, Dr. Fenton has been keeping an eye on infection rates in the Lower Mainland and Alberta, using data collected from wastewater samples.

“In the Lower Mainland it’s much more reassuring and that makes sense given the high vaccination rates in that area,” she explains. “Alberta is not faring so well; things are tending to trend upwards there and that’s concerning considering how close neighbours they are to us. And we do have pockets of very low vaccination in the Interior.”

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Dr. Fenton has also put in a request for the same wastewater monitoring to be used in the Kamloops area.

“I’ve been told that the funding has been approved and it’s moving forward, but we don’t have any firm dates yet. I’m looking forward to having that indicator to really tell us at the population level what’s going on.”

More outbreaks have popped up at long term care homes in Kamloops, but Interior Health says it’s not a shock. Restrictions around visitation have changed, staff and residents are coming in and out of the community and they are congregate living facilities.

“It’s not surprising to have transmission there,” notes Dr. Fenton. “We do have those outbreak protocols that we can initiate when we need control measures and we’ll continue to do what we need to do.”

Those measures include offering a second booster dose to high-risk populations which have already begun rolling out in Kamloops.

“It is a second booster dose at least four to six months after the first booster dose,” explains Dr. Fenton, “and that’s only for high-risk populations. We’re defining those as 70 (years) and over, specifically the long-term care folks, because they got their boosters first so it’s been a little while.”

For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations and who is currently eligible for a second booster, go to ImmunizeBC.ca.