In its most recent weekly report, B. C. The Center for Disease Control says COVID-19 hospitalizations have remained robust across the province, however, the number of patients in intensive care has increased.
On Thursday, the BCCDC reported another 328 people hospitalized with coronavirus, the same as last week. But the province also reported another 37 people in intensive care for the disease, up 42% from 26 reported on Nov. 26. 17
The most recent figures show that, as of November 19, another 21 people died after testing positive for COVID-19 in the past 30 days. During the week ending November 12, B. C. reported 30 new deaths for the first time, however, since then, the total has been revised upwards to 41.
A total of another 4,642 people have reportedly died for reasons related to COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Labs reported a total of 498 new cases through Saturday, Nov. 19, an increase of 2%.
Since the BCCDC only counts PCR tests in its case numbers, which most people in British Columbia don’t have to count at this time, reported cases are ideal for particularly underestimating the true spread of the disease.
The centre says it is still tracking virus levels in wastewater at five treatment plants in Metro Vancouver, home to about part of BC’s population.
While SARS-CoV-2 viral load is “slowly but increasing” at the Annacis plant, which roughly covers the Fraser North and Fraser South fitness regions, grades are solid at the other 4 facilities.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is in a position to cancel surgeries to make more room for patients in hospitals, especially pediatric emergency rooms filled with young people with respiratory illnesses.
Parents have been concerned about long waiting times in the emergency room since early November, and two primary hospitals in Metro Vancouver are struggling to cope with a large influx of children with health problems.
Christy Hay, executive director of B. C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, says her branch is seeing several viral illnesses, COVID-19 and emerging cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The hospital has activated its emergency overflow protocol to classify less urgent cases.
Dr. Randeep Gill, an emergency physician at Surrey Memorial Hospital, says his centre’s paediatric emergency branch sees about 250 patients a day lately, though it was only designed to treat 72.
On Thursday, Dix told B. C. Reporters. Legislature that the province weigh his to relieve some of the pressure.
“We have other steps that we don’t need to take, but that would be, for example, delaying elective surgery,” he said.
“This step is at our disposal. We haven’t done that yet. We knew it would be a tough season, and we are. “
Children’s Healthcare Canada, an organization of national fitness leaders for children, says fitness centers across the country have noticed a “critical increase in admissions and demand for children” this month.
The organization calls on the provinces and Ottawa to convene a Prime Ministers’ Meeting between the Prime Ministers, the Prime Minister and the Chief Nursing Officer to expand a plan to address the childcare crisis.
With The Canadian Press and Joel Ballard
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