COVID cases show big spikes in most Okanagan communities

New COVID-19 cases doubled in most Okanagan communities last week.

Figures from the BC Centre For Disease Control for Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 show Vernon, which also includes Coldstream and Regional District of North Okanagan Areas B and C, had 181 new infections, up from the 78 the previous week.

Armstrong-Spallumcheen had 22 cases, up from 10, while the Central Okanagan went from 267 to 625.

Enderby had six cases, one of the few communities to report a lower number.

The centre has not said how many of the cases were the Omicron variant, but health officials recently said 80 per cent of all the new cases in B.C. are that strain.

New cases in local communities for week of Dec. 26 – Jan. 1

Vernon 181 (78 the previous week)

Armstrong-Spallumcheen 22 (10)

Enderby six (13)

Salmon Arm 88 (61)

Central Okanagan 625 (267)

Penticton 155 (26)

South Okanagan 22 (six)

Revelstoke 257 (142)

Arrow Lakes 17 (eight)

Nelson 69 (31)

Kamloops 261 (152)

Golden 81 (17)

Click here to see the complete case numbers around B.C.