COVID-19 deaths confirmed in every age group but one since April, B.C. statistics show
At least 363 people have died of COVID-19 in B.C. since April 2, including at least one person in every age group except those 10 to 19, according to the province's Vital Statistics agency.
The data reported in the B.C. Centre for Disease Control's latest situation report shows people ages 80 and older continue to make up the vast majority of deaths caused by COVID-19. The median age of COVID-caused deaths in the province is 85.
But the elderly are not the only people who have died from the disease in the last four months. The Vital Statistics data shows COVID-19 was identified as the underlying cause of death for one child under age 10, one person in their 20s, one person in their 30s, one person in their 40s, three people in their 50s, 30 people in their 60s and 73 people in their 70s between April 2 and July 30.
April 2 is when the province made the transition to reporting "30-day, all-cause mortality" in its COVID-19 data. Before that date, the province attributed deaths to COVID-19 based on reporting by health authorities at the time of death.
The new counting method automatically flags every person who dies within 30 days of a positive COVID-19 test, and leaves it to Vital Statistics to determine whether the coronavirus was the underlying cause of death, a process that can take eight weeks.
Between April 2 and July 30, according to the BCCDC, there were 962 possible COVID-19 deaths reported to Vital Statistics in this way. Of those, 108 were still pending an underlying cause determination from the agency.
Of the remaining 854, a total of 363 were determined to have been caused by the coronavirus. That's roughly 43 per cent of the total.
The 363 COVID-caused deaths during the period equate to a little more than three deaths per day.
That's more than triple the number of people who die in motor vehicle accidents each day in B.C., on average, according to ICBC data, but it's less than half the number of people who died from illicit drug overdoses each day during the month of May.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.