B.C. COVID-19 infections expected to level off after recent spike, researcher says

Figures from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC) Thursday showed a 58 per cent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, but one researcher says the exponential growth in cases isn’t expected to continue.

Dr. Sarah Otto, a University of British Columbia professor, tells CityNews the province’s COVID-19 situation is similar to that seen earlier this year.

“We’re basically back now to where the numbers were in about April or May of this year. And those are high, but we’re nowhere near the highs of the first Omicron wave. Those are like, four or five times more hospitalizations than we’re seeing now,” she said on Friday.

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Otto says once COVID-19 vaccines begin rolling out later this month, it should boost the province’s overall immunity to the virus.

“The data is pretty good that boosters help boost your antibodies pretty quickly. We’re seeing responses even under a week. So it’s not like you get a shot and it’s a long, long time until you boost your antibodies,” she said.

“The virus is really much more on the margins. There aren’t that many people in any one point in time that are susceptible because we’ve got so much immunity in vaccines and previous infections.

“It should run out of fuel and we’re expecting it to turn around in the next month.”

Additionally, the researcher notes immunity will kick in quicker after the next round of vaccinations, compared to earlier in the pandemic.

“Our immune systems actually remember. They have cells that remember these particular viruses and then just have to start pumping out those antibodies again,” she said.

The biggest reason behind the spike in infections, Otto says, is the most recent Omicron variant, ED.5.1. She adds the time of year and waning immunity are also factors.

“We’re spending more time indoors in crowded environments where we know that the virus transmits really well,” Otto explained.

“Perfect storm of low immunity, fall weather, and this new variant.”

Otto notes that while infections are expected to plateau in the weeks ahead, the next variant of the virus is “right around the corner.”

The province announced last week that its fall vaccination campaign would be starting up this month. Invitations for COVID and flu vaccines are expected to start going out after Thanksgiving.

With files from Liza Yuzda