COVID-19 in B.C.: Hospitalizations fall to lowest level since September, but case average continues to rise
British Columbia has recorded 78 more cases of COVID-19 over the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health announced Wednesday.
It's the second day in a row that B.C. has added more than 75 new cases to its total, after nearly a month of recording fewer than that.
Wednesday's update brought the rolling seven-day average for new cases in the province up to 58 per day. The average had fallen as low as 35 earlier this month, after reaching a peak of 1,130 daily new cases in April.
There have now been 148,641 cases in the province since the pandemic began.
No more deaths were reported Wednesday, leaving B.C. at 1,763 coronavirus-related deaths overall.
There are now 729 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of those, 48 are in hospital, including 16 in intensive care units.
The last time there were more than 700 active cases of the coronavirus in B.C. was July 3.
In her last presentation on pandemic modelling, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry showed data suggesting B.C. was likely to see an increase in infections as its reopening plan progressed.
How large an increase the province saw would be determined by immunization rates and the number and intensity of social connections residents resumed.
As case counts have risen in recent days, hospitalizations have, so far, continued to fall. The 48 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday was the lowest total B.C. has seen since Sept. 10, 2020.
As of Wednesday, 80.1 per cent of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 55.6 per cent have received their second dose.
The province has administered a total of 6,297,149 doses of vaccine so far.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
NEW Life got in the way of one woman's reunion with her father, but a DNA test gained her a family
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
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.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
Quebec's Health Department says it has received 28 reports of eye damage related to the April 8 total solar eclipse that passed over southern parts of the province.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.