Health authorities finally release neighbourhood-level COVID-19 data
B.C. authorities released a set of long-awaited COVID-19 maps Wednesday, following public outcry after a pair of leaked internal reports published last week that showed much more detailed figures were available than were being made public.
The newly released maps show COVID-19 cases, vaccination and positive test rates for the seven-day period running May 4 to 10. Officials also published a “weekly data summary” document, the same type of document leaked to Postmedia last week.
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director or the Vancouver
Infection Diseases Centre, called the release “a good start” and said the more detailed information released Wednesday made it clear “that Surrey faces unique challenges that must be addressed.”
Case rates showed signs of decline in several of Surrey's hardest-hit neighbourhoods, when compared to maps in the leaked reports that covered the last two weeks of April. But figures for Surrey cases and positive tests remain high in those neighbourhoods. Vaccination rates have also improved in Surrey. Case rates declined from the previous week in some neighbourhoods around Abbotsford, as well.
Test positivity rates were still above 10 per cent in parts of east Vancouver, Surrey, Abbotsford and Mission, as well as the northeastern corner of the province.
The maps showed vaccination rates in most Lower
Mainland neighbourhoods were between 21 and 40 per cent. The province announced Wednesday that over half of eligible British Columbians have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
In a news conference Monday, Dr. Bonnie Henry said officials were developing “an interactive mapping app” that would allow people to explore neighbourhood-level data by age and gender. “That will also be available in the coming days,” she said.
Data will be available for download as well, according to a note on the CDC's website.
Scientists and researchers say the open spread of information helps individuals make informed decisions, allows scientists to explore data from different angles and can be used to inform decisions in jurisdictions across the country.
Conway agreed, saying open data — not just maps and charts — means “smart people can look at (the data) and provide us with insights that can help us all.”
“We all want to be part of the solution,” he said.