B.C. adds 9 deaths, dozens more hospitalizations in latest COVID-19 update
Nine more deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 in B.C., and hospitalizations in the province have risen to another record high, the Ministry of Health announced Friday.
In the final pandemic update of the week, the ministry said 924 people are currently in hospital with COVID-19 in B.C. That total includes 130 people who are in intensive care units.
The nine new deaths bring the pandemic death toll to 2,529, and push the seven-day rolling average for deaths in B.C. to 8.71 per day.
The last time the rolling average was that high was nearly a year ago, on Feb. 3, 2021.
Four of the latest deaths happened in Fraser Health, four in Vancouver Coastal Health and one in Island Health, according to the ministry.
The 924 hospitalizations reported Friday include both people whose COVID-19 infections are serious enough to require hospital care and people who were admitted to hospital for other reasons and tested positive during routine screening.
Some of those in hospital have contracted COVID-19 as part of an acute care outbreak, of which there were 10 across the province as of Friday.
Five new outbreaks in care homes were added to the provincial total, and one outbreak was declared over, leaving B.C. with a total of 62 active outbreaks in its health-care system.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has called the province's current method for calculating COVID-19 hospitalizations "an overestimate," but one that still helps illustrate the impact of the coronavirus on the province's health-care system.
Henry said during a news conference Friday that B.C.'s promised "deep dive" on hospitalizations is being used to guide officials as they look for what they can do to prevent severe illness in the province.
Friday's update also reported 2,364 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C., a number that is no longer considered particularly indicative of the spread of the disease in the province.
B.C.'s testing system reached its capacity earlier on in the Omicron wave, prompting the province to recommend against testing for otherwise healthy people under the age of 65.
There are currently 33,997 test-confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in the province, but the true number is likely several times higher than that.
As of Friday, 89.4 per cent of eligible people ages five and older in the province have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 83.5 per cent have received a second dose.
Booster shots have been administered to 37.8 per cent of people ages 12 and older, or 40.5 per cent of adults.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.