COVID hospitalizations hit new low for the year as BCCDC switches to monthly reports
The number of people in B.C. hospitals with COVID-19 dropped to a new 2024 low for a second week in a row Thursday, as the B.C. Centre for Disease Control prepares to switch to its summer reporting schedule.
There were 105 test-positive patients in hospitals around the province Thursday, the lowest total the BCCDC has reported so far this year, and a slight decrease from the 112 reported last week.
The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in B.C. in 2024, as reported in public updates from the BCCDC, is shown. (CTV News)
This week's total is the lowest the BCCDC has reported since last August and is less than a third of the hospital population reported in late April last year.
The BCCDC's April 20, 2023, update showed 316 people in hospital with COVID.
Notably, the number of COVID-positive patients the agency reports in its updates includes both those who have serious cases of the disease requiring hospitalization, and those who are admitted to hospital for other reasons and test positive for COVID incidentally.
CTV News tracks the reported hospital population as a rough proxy for the spread and severity of COVID in the province at a given time, though other data shared by the BCCDC can also help illustrate trends.
On Thursday, the agency reported 252 new infections confirmed through lab-based testing during the most recent epidemiological week, which spanned April 14 to 20.
That total is identical to the one the BCCDC reported for the preceding epidemiological week, but because more tests were conducted during the week ending April 20, the percentage of tests coming back positive declined in the most recent update. Test positivity was 8.8 per cent during the last epidemiological week, down from 9.2 per cent the week before.
Thursday's data represents the penultimate weekly report from the BCCDC before it reduces the frequency of such reports. Next week's update on May 2 will be the last one until the first Thursday of June.
Last year, the agency provided monthly updates on COVID-19 data from May through September, before reverting to biweekly and then weekly reports in the fall.
The BCCDC has not indicated when weekly reporting will resume this year.
While COVID data will be reported monthly starting in May, reports on other respiratory illnesses will cease to be shared until the fall, according to the BCCDC.
Wastewater surveillance data will continue to be updated on a weekly basis, however.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
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.
Israel vows military operation 'in the very near future' following Hamas attack
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis, while the defense minister warned of "a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza."
B.C. man wants homes for thousands of books he soon won't be able to read
In the 10 years since John William started to lose his vision, he's been finding new ways to enjoy his vast personal library.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Panamanians vote in election dominated by former president who was barred from running
Panamanians began voting Sunday in an election that has been consumed by unfolding drama surrounding the country’s former president, even though he is not on the ballot.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
Denial and uncertainty are looming over a Biden-Trump rematch 6 months out from U.S. Election Day
Exactly six months before Election Day, Biden and Trump are locked in the first contest in 112 years with a current and former president competing for the White House. It's a race that is at once deeply entrenched and highly in flux as many voters are only just beginning to embrace the reality of the 2024 campaign.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.