Key takeaways:
- According to the Ministry of Health, there are currently 854 people with COVID-19 in B.C. hospitals, up from 819 on Monday.
- Despite the fact that Omicron is thought to be a minor form of COVID-19, Henry claims that unvaccinated people are more vulnerable.
- Due to sustained high levels of transmission and record hospitalizations, the majority of the restrictions imposed last month were extended.
The rise of coronavirus-positive hospital patients in British Columbia continued on Tuesday, with officials confirming that most of the province’s COVID-19 restrictions will be extended until next month.
As per the Ministry of Health, there are currently 854 individuals in B.C. hospitals with COVID-19, up from 819 on Monday. The count of patients battling the virus in intensive care has increased by 13% from the previous day’s announcement of 99.
According to a breakdown posted on Twitter by Health Minister Adrian Dix, most COVID-19 critical care patients in the province are 60 or older. All 12 people over the age of 80 have been properly vaccinated, underlining the virus’s persistent threat to the elderly.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, stated earlier in the day at a news conference, “We need to pay attention.” “Despite the high rates of transmission, many people still become critically ill.”
Officials pointed out that as people get older, their immune systems become less responsive, and many older citizens have underlying diseases that put them in danger.
Also read: As N.W.T. navigates the Omicron wave, most schools will continue to offer online learning
Despite the belief that Omicron is a minor variant of COVID-19, Henry claims that the unvaccinated are more vulnerable than the general population.
ICU patients without vaccination protection account for 42% of the total and 60% of those under 50. Because that group only accounts for 14% of the population, they are massively overrepresented.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health confirmed two more COVID-19-related deaths, both of which occurred in the Fraser Health district. The government does not offer regular updates on the deceased’s immunization status.
Over the last two weeks, the number of daily coronavirus-related deaths has gradually increased. It’s unknown if this is related to a rise of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes and assisted living institutions.
CareLife Fleetwood, Menno Hospital, Buchanan Lodge, St. Michael’s Centre, Eden Care Centre, Village at Smith Creek, Veterans Memorial Lodge, Sunset Lodge, and Sidney Care Home were among the nine new outbreaks revealed by the government on Tuesday. Six more outbreaks have been declared, leaving 53 current hospital outbreaks.
In addition, 1,975 new COVID-19 test-positive cases have been reported in B.C. The seven-day average dropped to 2,184 per day, while case counts are claimed to be under-reported due to the province’s testing capacity being at capacity for weeks.
Nonetheless, officials believe the Omicron wave’s transmission has already peaked and begun to decline, as demonstrated by continued monitoring of COVID-19 levels in wastewater.
According to health experts, the majority of the limitations imposed last month were extended due to continued high levels of transmission and record hospitalizations. Household gatherings are limited in size, indoor events such as weddings and funerals are prohibited, bars and nightclubs are prohibited from operating, and diner behavior in restaurants is closely regulated.
Gyms and fitness centers will be permitted to reopen on Jan. 20 under revised criteria that include a seven-square-meter separation requirement between persons exercising.
Overall COVID-19 hospitalizations, on the other hand, are considered a “overestimate” of COVID-19’s impact on health care, especially since the province shifted to a new reporting system which includes all so-called incidental cases – people who were in the hospital for unrelated reasons to the virus but tested positive during routine screening.
According to a case study conducted in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, around 45 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations are likely accidental.
Source: CTV News
