More cases of 'Kraken' variant detected in B.C., but province has good protection, officials say
B.C.'s top doctor says the province has confirmed more cases of the so-called "Kraken" variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, but it is not currently the strain responsible for most infections in B.C.
There have been 24 cases of the XBB.1.5 subvariant of the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed through whole-genome sequencing in B.C. so far, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said at a news conference in Vancouver Friday.
She estimated that the subvariant currently accounts for five to six per cent of cases the province is sequencing. The vast majority of cases – about 95 per cent – are still the BQ.1.1 subvariant, Henry said.
While she stressed that the 24 confirmed XBB.1.5 infections are just the ones that have been sequenced, not the total number that have likely been contracted in the province, Henry also sought to minimize people's concerns about the new subvariant.
"All of these are subvariants of Omicron, and I think that's really, really important," the provincial health officer said.
"While this XBB.1.5 has garnered a lot of attention, it still remains a subvariant of Omicron."
That means British Columbians are well equipped to deal with it, according to Henry.
She said B.C.'s population has high levels of protection from all Omicron strains because of vaccination and previous infection, and added that there's no evidence that XBB.1.5 is causing more severe illness than previous subvariants.
"We must remember that these new strains may make us more vulnerable to infection, but they don't render us defenceless," Henry said. "We are no longer in the place where we needed to take extraordinary measures because everybody was susceptible and many, many people could get seriously ill, need hospital care or die."
She added that precautions like staying home when sick, using proper "respiratory etiquette" (covering coughs and sneezes, properly disposing of tissues, regular hand-washing), and wearing a mask in crowded spaces or places with poor ventilation will help limit the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
"It is important to continue to take measures to protect ourselves and others from respiratory viruses and other infections," Henry said, adding that getting vaccinated – particularly with the Omicron-targeting bivalent vaccines – is the most important protective measure to take.
Friday's update from Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix comes one week after Dix announced that B.C. would be reopening emergency operations centres at 20 hospitals to deal with surging demand.
The emergency operations centres were initially put in place to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, but COVID-19 has been less of a concern this winter than other respiratory illnesses.
As of Thursday, there were 302 people in hospital with the coronavirus, on the low end of the range the province has been seeing over the last six months, despite concerns about the spread of the so-called "Kraken" variant.
Hospitals overall remain above their standard capacity. As of Friday, there were 10,106 people hospitalized for all causes across the province. Including 2,500 surge beds, B.C. has 11,680 hospital beds available, overall.
This means hospitals were operating at roughly 87 per cent of their maximum capacity, including surge beds, or 110 per cent of their baseline capacity, as of Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.