This past week brought some exciting, and some troubling, developments in our pandemic marathon.

Reports of high case count numbers around the province, including growing variant cases, are cause for concern. For the period of March 28 – April 3 there were 2 new cases of COVID-19 reported for the Powell River Local Health Area (includes City of Powell River, qathet Regional District (minus Lasqueti), and Tla’amin Nation).

For the period of March 21- 27 there were no new cases of COVID-19 in the Powell River Local Health Area (includes City of Powell River, qathet Regional District (minus Lasqueti), and Tla’amin Nation).

In an effort to curtail the recent increase in COVID-19 cases across B.C., however, the Public Health Office strengthened province-wide restrictions this week. Until April 19 indoor religious gatherings and worship services, indoor group exercise classes and indoor dining at restaurants, pubs and bars are prohibited. Masks are now mandatory in all schools for children in grades 4 – 12, and strongly recommended for children in K – grade 3.

There were 2 new cases of COVID-19 in the Powell River Local Health Area for the period of March 14-20 (includes City of Powell River, qathet Regional District (minus Lasqueti), and Tla’amin Nation).

Public vaccinations for people aged 80 and older and Indigenous people aged 65 and older began in Powell River on the upper floor of the Powell River Recreation Complex (Complex Clinic) this week.

March 11 marked one year since the pandemic officially started. It has been a long ride, and we still have a distance to go. However, with a new public vaccination clinic opening on the upper floor of the Powell River Recreation Complex next week (Monday, March 15), there is light at the end of the tunnel. Signs of spring are also bringing signs of hope and joy.

The upper floor of the Powell River Recreation Complex – the “Complex Clinic” is being transitioned this week. Since October this has been the location of community drive-thru COVID-19 testing and assessment, but as of Monday, March 15 it will be reopened as the site where public COVID-19 vaccinations will take place.