COVID-19 update: Hospitalizations reach 5-month high as B.C. expands vaccine booster access
The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in British Columbia has reached a five-month high, the province revealed shortly after announcing expanded access to vaccine booster shots.
There are 390 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 155 in intensive care, according to Tuesday's update from the Ministry of Health. That's the highest number of hospitalizations since May 13, when there were 413 coronavirus patients in treatment.
The government also announced another 457 cases of COVID-19 and two related deaths, leaving the province's seven-day average for infections at 591 per day and the seven-day average for fatalities at 6.43 per day. Both numbers have been trending downward in recent days.
Once again, Northern Health recorded the highest number of infections per capita. The latest cases were distributed as follows:
- Northern Health – 82 cases, a rate of 28.8 per 100,000 population
- Interior Health – 83 cases, a rate of 10 per 100,000 population
- Fraser Health – 176 cases, a rate of 9.2 per 100,000 population
- Island Health – 55 cases, a rate of 6.4 per 100,000 population
- Vancouver Coastal Health – 61 cases, a rate of 5.1 per 100,000 population
Another 591 people recovered from COVID-19 as well, according to the ministry, pushing the province's active caseload to 4,829, down from 4,966 on Monday.
Tuesday's update once again shows the majority of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and ICU visits involve the unvaccinated. Approximately 86 per cent of ICU patients haven't received a single dose of vaccine, according to a table shared by Health Minister Adrian Dix on Twitter, including 41 of the 42 patients who are under the age of 50.
Just under 90 per cent of eligible B.C. residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, and nearly 85 per cent have received two.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed the province is offering booster shots to several vulnerable groups before the end of the year, and expanding access to the broader population beginning in January.
Officials previously decided to provide third shots to some seniors in care, whose bodies are said to have developed weaker antibody responses following vaccination, leading to a new wave of outbreaks in those settings.
There are currently 28 active outbreaks across B.C.'s health-care system, according to the ministry, including 23 in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities.
Henry said emerging data indicates that immunity wanes over time with the general population as well, but that a booster could offer long-lasting protection. She stressed that a third shot shouldn't be necessary for the general population during this winter respiratory season, however.
"Most of us have good, strong protection and we don't need a booster dose right now, but come next spring it is something we should consider," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army ordered some 100,000 Palestinians on Monday to begin evacuating from the southern city of Rafah, signaling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent and further complicating efforts to broker a cease-fire in Gaza.