This is a COVID update for the Greater Campbell River area on March 11, 2021.

Local stats for the week ending March 6

While the numbers are now falling in North Vancouver Island, yesterday the BC Centre for Disease Control released statistics for what was hopefully the peak in the Greater Campbell River Health Area.

There were 21 active cases in the Greater Campbell River during the week ending on Saturday March 6. 

At that point there were 62 active cases in North Vancouver Island, yesterday Island Health reported that the number has dropped to 44. 

The Discovery Islands   

Though Cortes, Quadra and Read Islands are all on the list of islands where vaccinations will be carried out for the entire adult population, no further details have been released. 

While there are no known active cases on any of these islands, Island Health does not release this kind of data.

COVID Violations

Campbell River City Council discussed 113 reports of COVID violations at their March 9th board meeting.

One of the reports pertained to a business belonging to City Councillor Kermit Dahl, who explained that someone saw his staff not wearing masks. The person reporting this was not aware that the staff were members of the same family, or that they were actually adhering to COVID regulations. Dahl’s business was given a warning to the effect that they were ‘working in a fishbowl’ and, whether it is justified or not, everyone has the right to complain. 

Councillor Charlie Cornfield mentioned an incident where someone not wearing a mask entered a Campbell River business. The person was approached, but refused to wear a mask and left.

Three active cases reported on social media

Two Campbell River businesses, and North Island College, released details of COVID cases through social media. 

Steve Marshall Motors reopened on March 8th, and their Facebook page mentions selling an SUV and a  truck. The store closed down on March 4th after a staff member tested positive. This person is presumably still in isolation.

The Ideal Cafe reopens today, after being closed for 6 days. One of the servers tested positive on March 1st. She tested negative on the 4th, but will remain in self isolation until March 12th.

There were also two exposures at North Island College on March 2nd and 3rd. Only a small group of students came into contact with the infected person.     

Links of Interest:

• (Cortes Currents) COVID updates
• Island Health’s COVID-19 dashboard
• (Island Health) How to register for the COVID-19 Vaccine
• (BCCDC) BC COVID Data
• British Columbia COVID-19 data
• (BC Gov News) news releases from the Ministry of Health

This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative. 

Top photo credit: Sunrise at Painter’s Lodge, Campbell River, by ChrisHaysPhotography via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)