COVID-19 cases continue to be among young adults in Whistler

VANCOUVER Coastal Health (VCH) said on Thursday that the reported COVID-19 cases in the Whistler community continue to be among young adults who live and work there. The most common location for transmission continues to be in household settings and social gatherings.

* From April 6 to 11, VCH identified 179 new cases of COVID-19 in Whistler.

* From January 1 to April 11, there have been 1,685 cases recorded in the Whistler community. (Previously reported numbers are not cumulative, due to ongoing data reconciliation.)

* Of these, 1,457 individuals have recovered from COVID-19.

VCH said it encourages all Whistler adults 18 years of age and older who have not yet been vaccinated, and who have a primary residence in Whistler or who work in the Whistler community, to book a COVID-19 vaccination at www.vchcovid19vaccine.com.

The first people to be vaccinated in B.C. were residents of care homes and health care workers. VCH data shows that within two to three weeks of starting vaccinations, there was a drop in the number of COVID-19 infections and a reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among vaccinated seniors. All of the vaccines approved in Canada have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of severe disease and death associated with COVID-19 infection.

The vaccination clinic at the Whistler Conference Centre is open from April 15 to 18 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and VCH aims to vaccinate all of those who are eligible during this time.

VCH strongly advised residents in Whistler in its region to continue to follow public health guidelines, including those who have been vaccinated. VCH also asked any Whistler residents who experience COVID-19-like symptoms to complete the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool and to access testing services in their community, if required. VCH continues to provide care and support to those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Whistler community. This includes rigorous case and contact follow-up for all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in its region.