The weekly number of COVID-19 cases in the South Okanagan Similkameen dropped below 400 for the first time since the new year.

According to data from the BC CDC the region saw 369 cases over the week of Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, down from the 500 cases recorded over the week of Jan. 23 to 29.

It is the fourth straight week of declining weekly numbers for the region as a whole since the recent peek of 548 cases over Jan. 9 to 15.

Penticton, which continues to maintain the most cases in the region, saw 255 cases of COVID over the most recent week, down from the 305 recorded over Jan. 23 to 29.

READ MORE: Southern Okanagan weekly COVID-19 cases swell

Other health areas in the region have not had consistent weekly decreases.

The Summerland local health dropped down to 41 cases over Jan. 30 to Feb 5, down from 62 over Jan. 23 to 29 and the 56 cases recorded over Jan. 26 to 22.

The Southern Okanagan local health area, stretching from Okanagan Falls to Osoyoos, saw a dramatic decrease in cases to 59 for Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, from 113 the week before.

The area had been dealing with several care facility outbreaks, including an outbreak of 33 residents and nine staff with COVID at McKinney Place in Oliver. That recent outbreak had three deaths connected to it according to Interior Health.

READ MORE: 7 COVID-related deaths since start of year in South Okanagan long-term care facilities

In the Similkameen Valley, the Princeton local health area saw five cases over the most recent week, down from six over Jan. 23 to 29.

Keremeos saw nine cases over Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, down from 14 the week before.

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