Is B.C. flooding affecting the province's COVID-19 numbers? Not yet, Health Ministry says
Though flooding and mudslides have displaced thousands of B.C. residents and made travel difficult, the provincial Ministry of Health says it has not seen an impact on COVID-19 testing rates in disaster-affected areas.
"We know that the weather emergency has caused delays in transport and affected people’s ability to travel, and are working to minimize disruptions on COVID-19 testing and care," the ministry said in a statement provided to CTV News Vancouver.
CTV News raised the issue with the ministry after noticing a drop in the number of tests reported both province-wide and in the Fraser Health region in the days since the atmospheric river that triggered landslides and inundated several communities across B.C.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control's COVID-19 Dashboard, the province conducted 10,334 COVID-19 tests on Sunday, 9,641 on Monday, 11,826 on Tuesday and 14,062 on Wednesday (the most recent date for which data was available).
Each of those numbers is lower than the total from the corresponding day during the previous week, though not always significantly lower.
For example, the 9,641 tests conducted on Monday, Nov. 15 - when many of the worst effects of the atmospheric river that struck the province were just being realized - was only about 550 fewer than the number conducted on Monday, Nov. 8, when there were no significant road closures or evacuations in B.C.
In contrast, the largest gap in reported test totals was between Tuesday, Nov. 16 - which saw 11,826 tests - and Tuesday, Nov. 9, which saw nearly 3,500 more.
While these fluctuations were all in the same direction - downward - that doesn't necessarily reflect an inability to access testing due to floods, according to the ministry.
"COVID-19 testing rates fluctuate daily, so it is important to look at the trend over time," the ministry said. "It can be difficult to distinguish a true change in the testing rate beyond the usual fluctuations, and to determine how much of that change is due to one specific cause."
The ministry also noted that new cases, new tests and test positivity had all been declining before the flooding began.
B.C.'s rolling seven-day average for new coronavirus infections has been declining in recent weeks, reaching a three-month low during this week's flooding.
The rolling average for test positivity has also been declining, albeit slowly. It was 3.7 on Wednesday, down from 3.9 the previous week.
"There has not yet been an impact on COVID-19 testing rates in the flood-affected regions, but we are monitoring the situation for any changes," the ministry added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion, 1 person seriously injured: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.