B.C. respiratory illnesses mostly stable or declining in latest weekly data
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C. was essentially unchanged this week, and key indicators of respiratory disease transmission in the province continue to show mostly stable or declining trends.
There were 170 test-positive COVID patients in hospitals across the province Thursday, up from 165 the week before, but within the same narrow range that has been seen since mid-January.
The number of COVID-positive patients in B.C. hospitals in public updates from the BCCDC in 2024 is shown. (CTV)
Other COVID-19 data is also stable or declining in the B.C. Centre for Disease Control's latest weekly update.
According to the BCCDC, there were 391 newly confirmed COVID infections in the province during the most recent epidemiological week, from Feb. 4 to 10. That's down from 441 the week before.
The percentage of tests coming back positive was largely unchanged, however, suggesting the week-to-week decrease was the product of fewer tests conducted. During the week that ended Feb. 10, 10.5 per cent of specimens came back positive. The week before, that percentage was 10.6.
Wastewater surveillance data shows concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 remaining fairly stable at most monitored treatment plants over recent weeks.
It's a similar story when looking at other respiratory illnesses for which the BCCDC shares data.
The most recent epidemiological week saw declines in the number of new positive tests for influenza and RSV (from 455 to 366 and from 324 to 247, respectively), and test positivity rates for each virus also dropped.
During the week that ended Feb. 10, 9.1 per cent of tests came back positive for influenza, down from 9.8 the week before. RSV test positivity dropped from 7.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent over the same period.
Positivity rates for entero/rhinovirus and "other" respiratory illnesses – a category that includes parainfluenza, adenovirus, HPMV and seasonal coronaviruses – rose sharply during the week in question, but those diseases make up small portions of the overall respiratory illness burden in the province. In other words, while the percentage of tests coming back positive for those diseases spiked, the absolute number of positive tests was still relatively small (102 for entero/rhinovirus and 205 for "other").
Similarly, wastewater surveillance data shows increasing concentrations of influenza B at some treatment plants in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, but levels remain low overall.
Concentrations of influenza A and RSV in wastewater, meanwhile, have been decreasing across the province in recent weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Kingston, Ont. tenants fed up with lack of action from landlord over broken floor tiles
Joel Felder and Misti Pitcher have been living in their apartment in Kingston, Ont. for over two years, but the past 12 months have been miserable.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
North Korea informs Japan of a plan to launch military spy satellite
North Korea has told Japan it plans to launch a satellite by early next week, an apparent effort to put its second military spy satellite into orbit.