The top doctor in Interior Health says the number of new COVID-19 cases at Sun Peaks has slowed down considerably this week.

Dr. Albert de Villiers says there are now 24 cases linked to the resort municipality, noting things appear to have stabilized since the weekend after 15 cases were reported.

“[It] is not a huge increase which is good news. It doesn’t seem as if it is spiking and it seems we have been able to control that,” he said. “We are doing some testing and making sure we can keep it under control but it seems good.”

During a press conference today, de Villiers was also asked why the situation at Sun Peaks wasn’t officially declared as an outbreak or a cluster, unlike cases at other ski resorts.

“It doesn’t seem as if there is constant transmission within the community so that is why we don’t really call it anything,” he said. “We just say there is an increased number of cases and we deal with it that way. I mean, whether we call it something else doesn’t really make a difference because we always deal with it the same way.”

People in Sun Peaks who need to get tested for COVID-19 are being told to isolate themselves and make their way to a testing centre in Kamloops.

Sun Peaks Resort shut down its winter operations on April 5 as originally planned, though the resort has since closed several other businesses in light of these new cases.

“Out of an abundance of caution, all Sun Peaks Resort operated guest facing business functions are currently closed. This includes our food and beverage outlets, rental and retail stores, guest services office, as well as our daycare facility,” a statement said. “Staff members are available to assist via phone and email as required.”

On Monday, Sun Peaks Mayor Al Raine told NL News that attitudes in the community changed almost instantly since the cases were first reported.

“I do think getting the word out in the community and making everyone aware is going to help,” Raine said. “And I know that… it’s very, very quiet. People are paying attention.”

As it stands, Interior Health says a mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic for all adults at Sun Peaks is scheduled to take place between May 4 and May 7, with no plans to move it up.