Note: This is a Dec. 13, 2021 update on the COVID-19 situation in Revelstoke, B.C., including some background for readers from outside the area.
Health officials in Revelstoke, B.C. recorded two Covid-19 cases recorded in the Revelstoke Local Health Area (LHA) in the latest weekly period ending Dec. 8. Case numbers have been low in the Revelstoke LHA over the past four weeks, with a total of just six cases recorded since Nov. 7, 2021, including one weekly period where there were no cases.
In Revelstoke, the Delta variant-driven summer wave ramped up in the first week of August and has persisted since, although with fewer than 10 cases recorded here each week in all but one week since about mid-September as it trended downward.
Revelstoke continues to lead Interior Health in vaccination rates
The Revelstoke Local Health Area has essentially been the leader in Interior Health in vaccination rates since vaccines became available. Because infection rates were relatively high in Revelstoke at the time, health authorities opened vaccination to all adults aged 18-plus in early April, 2021, while most other health jurisdictions in B.C. were staggered by descending age groups.
Revelstoke has basically kept the lead in Interior Health ever since, although it did temporarily fall slightly behind in certain categories at some points. Currently, 96% of residents aged 12-plus have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, and 92% have received a second dose.
Revelstoke is above the B.C. average, which is at 91.4% for first dose and 88.4% for second dose as of Dec. 10, 2021.
The province is now administering third booster doses, and to children ages 5 and up. Currently, about 9% of children aged 5-11 have received a first dose in the Revelstoke LHA, the second highest rate in Interior Health.
The province has started administering third booster doses to some groups now, such as seniors and health care workers, and plans to roll out third dose boosters to the general population starting in January 2022. The third doses are meant to happen six to eight months after the second dose.
A relatively civil scene
Revelstoke has generally been very orderly through the pandemic, although we’ve had a few local-headline-grabbing incidents. But compared to the carnage we’ve seen online elsewhere, it’s been fairly tame here.
However, the pandemic has created new challenges and hardship for many Revelstoke frontline staff who work with the public, including more acute incidents and an increase in rudeness and harassment, often reactions to public health measures. This includes online harassment.
In interviews over the pandemic, frontline staff have asked for patience, kindness, and humanity. Revelstoke is also in the midst of a labour shortage, meaning frontline staff are often stretched thinner than usual.
The pandemic has taken a heavy economic toll on Revelstoke's hospitality sector, one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic.
There have been a few small, peaceful ‘freedom’ rallies at Grizzly Plaza in the past couple of months, a new phenomenon. Attendees gathered and some held signs and solicited honks from motorists driving by on Victoria Road. The largest one gathered over 50 people, but the rallies have since subsided.
Revelstoke hasn’t experienced the disruptive rally culture seen in other regional communities.
Interior Health-specific restrictions lifted
As of late November, Revelstoke now follows the same protocols as the rest of B.C., such as masks indoors in public buildings. The Okanagan was the centre of the summer Delta-driven wave, leading to special restrictions in Interior Health, which have now been lifted.
The main change is capacity restrictions have been lifted at venues like stadiums and theatres, and restrictions on large gatherings have eased significantly. Current B.C. government rules are here.
Omicron causes new international travel disruption
The new variant brought new restrictions at international borders, adding to transportation disruptions created by large-scale flooding damage in B.C., both more bad news for the destination tourism industry.
The flooding has interrupted transportation to Revelstoke from the Lower Mainland; however, travel to Revelstoke from airports such as Kelowna, Calgary and Kamloops hasn’t been directly interrupted due to the flooding damage to highways.
As of Dec. 10, provincial health authorities listed 10 Omicron variant cases detected in B.C., but none in Interior Health.
In B.C., the provincial government releases data on COVID-19 infections by Local Health Area weekly, on Wednesdays. At two other points during the week, it also releases more limited data that gives an indication of case rate change per Local Health Area. As the Omicron variant unfolds, revelstokemountaineer.com will monitor weekly numbers as they are published and report any upticks in the Revelstoke LHA.
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