The rate of COVID-19 transmission in Whistler continues to dip, following a recent outbreak that was among the worst in the province.
From April 26 to May 2, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) logged 15 new cases within the resort. That's down marginally from the 17 new cases identified in the Whistler community between April 19 and 25, but significantly lower than the 72 cases recorded in the resort between April 12 to 18 and ever father from the 179 cases the week before that.
This most recent case count brings the total number of Whistler residents who've tested positive for COVID-19 in 2021 to 1,790.
Previously reported numbers are not cumulative, due to ongoing data reconciliation, a spokesperson for VCH explained.
The lower number of positive tests comes following tightened province-wide travel restrictions, as well as last month's mass vaccination campaign that saw 17,100 doses of vaccine delivered to residents of Whistler and its neighbouring communities, according to VCH, in an effort to target COVID hotspots around the province.
On Friday, April 30, VCH also hosted a last-minute vaccine clinic for Pemberton grocery store workers, following lobbying from local officials.
Whistler's drop in cases also coincides with a slight decrease in positive tests across the province. On Tuesday, B.C. recorded its lowest number of people actively battling COVID-19 infections in five weeks.
That said, the province is far from out of the woods: In the same 24-hour reporting period, hospitalizations rose by 12 overnight, to 486 patients, with 173 of those in intensive care units. One more British Columbian also died from the virus, raising the province's death toll as of May 3 to 1,597.
