COVID-19 hospitalizations growing most in Fraser Health, B.C. data shows
The number of COVID-19 patients in B.C. hospitals Thursday was the highest it's been in more than two months, but not every region of the province has seen its hospital census growing in recent weeks.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, there were 596 test-positive coronavirus patients in the province's hospitals on Thursday, an increase of 46 from the previous week.
That total includes both those hospitalized because of significant illness caused by COVID-19 and those hospitalized for other reasons who tested positive during routine screening.
The lion's share of the increase this week came in the Fraser Health region, where there were 268 coronavirus patients in hospitals, up 39 from the week before.
Two other regional health authorities saw small increases: Vancouver Coastal Health's total increased by seven to 135, while Island Health's increased by six to 73.
The remaining health authorities - Interior Health and Northern Health - saw modest decreases in the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital. Interior Health's census dropped by seven to 96 and Northern Health's dropped by two to 16.
Over the last four weeks, most regions have seen their hospitalization totals fluctuate within a consistent range. Fraser Health is the only region that has seen consistent growth each week, rising from 196 people in hospital on April 22 to 268 this week.
Vancouver Coastal Health surged from 95 people in hospital on April 22 to 155 the following week, but has since declined, and the other three health authorities – which have smaller overall populations – have seen more modest fluctuations, as shown in the graph.
This graph shows the number of patients in hospital in each health authority on Thursdays, beginning April 22, 2022. Data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
In addition to the number of patients currently in hospital, the BCCDC also releases weekly figures on the number of newly admitted patients in each health authority.
Those numbers are preliminary and are expected to grow "as data become more complete," but comparing them to last week's preliminary numbers shows an encouraging trend.
Every health authority saw at least slightly fewer new hospitalizations during the week of May 1 to 7 – for which data was released Thursday – than it did during the preceding week.
New lab-confirmed cases were also down at least slightly from the previous week across all health authorities.
It should be noted that data on new cases reflects only lab-confirmed, lab-probable and epi-linked cases. Under the province's current testing strategy, most people with COVID-19 symptoms do not qualify for a lab-based PCR test, and the results of rapid antigen tests are neither collected nor reported.
Still, declining lab-confirmed case numbers are better than the alternative, and the trend matches that seen in wastewater surveillance in the Lower Mainland over the last two weeks.
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the largest numbers of new cases were found in larger population centres, with the local health area that includes most of the city of Surrey recording the highest total during the week of May 1 to 7.
That region saw 212 new lab-confirmed infections during the period. The next highest totals were recorded in Greater Victoria (118 new cases), the Tri-Cities (104) and the Central Okanagan (102).
The city of Vancouver also saw a significant number of new cases during the week in question, but it's divided into six separate local health areas. Adding those regions' totals together yields a total of 217 new lab-confirmed cases in the city between May 1 and 7.
While these regions had the largest raw numbers of new cases confirmed during the time period, per-capita rates of new cases were higher elsewhere.
The Lillooet local health area had the highest daily new case rate during the week, with 17 new lab-confirmed infections per 100,000 residents per day. Creston and the Bella Coola Valley had the next highest rates, at 15 per 100,000, according to the BCCDC.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.