B.C. reports 9 COVID-19 deaths, new hospitalization record on pandemic anniversary
On the second anniversary of B.C.'s first announced COVID-19 case, the province reported nine more deaths and a new record for test-positive patients in hospital.
The province's pandemic death toll now stands at 2,597, according to a written statement from the Ministry of Health.
The latest update places the number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 at 990 – a new all-time high for B.C. – with 141 of those in intensive care.
The hospitalization total includes both patients whose COVID-19 infections are serious enough to merit hospitalization and those who were hospitalized for some other reason and tested positive incidentally.
Earlier in the day, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry gave a presentation summarizing B.C.'s pandemic response over the last two years, and thanked the public for their co-operation through the five waves that have taken place so far – including the record-shattering Omicron wave, which officials believe has only recently started to subside.
"We've been on an incredibly arduous and long journey – and no, I didn't think we would be on this phase of the journey for this long," she said.
"But we have the tools and the resources and the wherewithal to help us deal with whatever is going to lie ahead."
Officials continue to encourage vaccination as a safe and effective way to decrease the chances of serious illness. So far, 89.8 per cent of eligible British Columbians have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine – including 51 per cent of children ages five to 11 – and 83.8 per cent have had two.
Forty-seven per cent of adults have also had a booster shot.
The Ministry of Health also announced seven more outbreaks in health-care facilities, at Residence at Clayton Heights, Cottonwoods Care Centre, Nanaimo Regional Hospital, Woodgrove Manor, Amica on the Gorge, The Gardens at Qualicum Beach, and Cowichan District Hospital.
Another 10 were declared over, leaving 58 active outbreaks across the health-care system, most at long-term care homes.
The province's seven-day average for deaths has increased dramatically this month, reaching 10 per day this week. Henry confirmed Friday that outbreaks in long-term care account for about 40 per cent of the COVID-19 deaths B.C. has recorded so far in 2021.
"Most of the people who are dying outside of those outbreaks are older people with underlying illnesses," she added. "A high proportion of them are people who don't have the protection from vaccination."
Another 2,137 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were announced Friday as well, though daily infection numbers have carried less weight since officials started discouraging most healthy people from getting tested.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It’s discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.