COVID-19-related hospitalizations drop in B.C.
Posted October 13, 2023 7:25 am.
For the first time since the summer, the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in British Columbia has gone down.
Week-to-week, the number has dropped about six per cent to just shy of 400 people, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). Statistics like this have not been seen since August, however, the provincial agency just started posting weekly updates again after a hiatus.
Despite that sliver of good news, ICU numbers, deaths and the rate of infection are all up. The BCCDC says the virus is really going after those in a specific demographic.
“The number of infection episodes per week increased from 231 to 807 from epi-week 33 to epi-week 40. In the last six epi-weeks (Aug. 27-Oct 7), infection episodes remained elevated among the 60+ age group.”
COVID-19 isn’t the only virus on the radar. The BCCDC says RSV is starting to show up in wastewater samples.
“SARS-CoV-2 levels are increasing at all monitored wastewater treatment plants across the province. At most sites, Influenza A has been detected sporadically in wastewater, while Influenza B remains undetectable. This week, RSV has started to appear more sporadically in wastewater.”
This all comes as invitations to get the updated COVID booster and flu shot started being sent out province-wide earlier this week.
If you’ve had either shot before in B.C., you’ll get the invite to book via text or email, while people at the highest risk, like seniors and those with chronic health conditions, will be the priority before invites are sent to everyone else.
You can also call 1-833-838-2323 to book an appointment.
