Number with COVID-19 in B.C. hospitals rises again as BCCDC tweaks wastewater reporting
The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in B.C. rose again this week, reaching its highest level since mid-January.
There were 250 test-positive patients in hospitals across the province as of Thursday, still below the 255 that was the lowest total seen in 2022, but well above this year's low of 188.
The number of COVID-19 patients in B.C. hospitals on Thursdays in 2023 is shown. (CTV)The number of COVID-19 patients in B.C. hospitals on Thursdays since the province switched to a "hospital census" model in January 2022 is shown. (CTV)
The hospitalization totals reported by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control every Thursday include both patients who are admitted because of serious cases of COVID-19 and those who are admitted to hospital for other reasons and test positive incidentally.
Health officials estimate that between 40 and 50 per cent of reported hospitalizations are caused by the coronavirus, while the rest are incidental.
Since the BCCDC began including incidental cases in its hospitalization total in January 2022, there have been as many as 985 people in hospital on Thursdays and as few as 188.
CASE DATA
Recent increases in hospitalizations have come alongside increases in other metrics monitored by the BCCDC each week.
On Thursday, the centre reported 405 new, lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the most recent epidemiological week, which ended March 18.
That's an increase of about eight per cent from the 374 reported last week for the period that ended March 11. This week's total is also the highest the BCCDC has reported since Jan. 26, when it announced 408 new cases detected during the week that ended Jan. 21.
Official case counts only tell part of the story, however, as restrictive testing eligibility criteria means only a small fraction of B.C. residents qualify for the kind of test that is included in the BCCDC's weekly updates.
The results of at-home rapid tests are not collected or reported, and experts estimate that the official case count underestimates the number of actual infections in B.C. each week by roughly 100-fold.
WASTEWATER CHANGES
To complement the official case count, the BCCDC also monitors the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at treatment plants around the province.
For the last several weeks, wastewater data has shown increasing concentrations at all monitored plants in B.C.
While that trend has corresponded with rising trends in other metrics, it's difficult to say how significant the surge in wastewater concentrations has been, because the BCCDC recently changed its approach to testing.
"On Feb. 28, 2023, BCCDC began using a more sensitive test for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater," reads a statement added to the wastewater reporting page on the BCCDC website last week.
"Increases in the viral signal after this date compared to before it may be due, in part, to this change. Please use caution when comparing data before and after Feb. 28, 2023."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
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.