COVID-19 update: B.C. reports 758 cases, 10 deaths, surging hospitalizations
Another 10 people have died from COVID-19 in British Columbia, the province announced Thursday along with 758 new cases and a further increase in hospitalizations.
The latest update from the Ministry of Health leaves B.C.'s seven-day average for coronavirus-related deaths at 7.29 per day, and the seven-day average for infections at 584 per day.
Four of the deceased lived in the Fraser Health region, four lived in the Interior Health region, and two lived in the Northern Health region.
On Twitter, Health Minister Adrian Dix offered condolences to the "families, friends and caregivers of those who have died as a result of COVID-19."
The number of patients in hospital climbed to 434, which is up 15 per cent from last Thursday and represents the highest number of hospitalizations the province has seen since May 9.
The government said a change in surveillance data reporting in the Interior Health Authority this week caused a one-time increase in hospitalization numbers, but did not provide a specific number or any further explanation.
The number of hospitalizations includes 155 patients in intensive care.
The Ministry of Health said the unvaccinated continue to represent the majority of cases, hospitalizations and ICU visits, despite making up less than one-fifth of B.C.'s population.
Nearly 85 per cent of current ICU patients haven't received a single dose of vaccine, including all 43 patients who are under the age of 50.
The province said unvaccinated residents were hospitalized at a rate of 57 patients per 100,000 population between Oct. 13 and 26 after adjusting for age, compared to 2.6 patients per 100,000 population among the fully vaccinated.
As of Thursday, 89.8 per cent of eligible residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 84.9 per cent have received two.
The province's high vaccination rate was cited in this week's report from the B.C. COVID-19 Modelling Group, which predicted gradual declines in case numbers across all health authorities over the next three weeks.
The drop is expected to be less dramatic in the Northern Health region, which has a lower vaccination rate than the rest of the province and is currently seeing the highest rates of transmission. The latest cases were distributed as follows:
- Northern Health – 133 cases, a rate of 46.8 per 100,000 population
- Fraser Health – 329 cases, a rate of 17.3 per 100,000 population
- Island Health – 114 cases, a rate of 13.3 per 100,000 population
- Interior Health – 108 cases, a rate of 13 per 100,000 population
- Vancouver Coastal Health – 74 cases, a rate of 6.2 per 100,000 population
Officials also announced one new health-care facility outbreak at Tabor Manor, bringing the total number of active outbreaks in B.C.'s health-care system to 33. Most of those are in in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
A teen was found buried in a basement in New York. An engraved ring helped police learn her identity two decades later
For more than two decades, the unknown victim was nicknamed "Midtown Jane Doe" because she was found in the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood of New York City. But this week, investigators finally revealed her identity.