COVID-19 hospitalizations still under 1,000 in B.C.; intensive care patient total increases

VICTORIA — COVID-19 hospitalizations slightly decreased in B.C. on Tuesday (Jan. 25).

According to the Ministry of Health, 985 patients are in hospital due to COVID-19, down two from Monday (Jan. 22). However, intensive care patients spiked to 144 (up by 15).

Between Jan. 10 and 23, B.C. reported 1,118 COVID-19 hospitalizations. The fully vaccinated population accounted for 788 of those (70.4 per cent), the unvaccinated 279 (25 per cent), and the partially vaccinated 51 (4.6 per cent).

However, per 100,000 population adjusting for age, 71 patients were unvaccinated, 40.9 were partially vaccinated, and 16.9 were fully vaccinated.

In the past 24 hours, one new death was recorded in Fraser Health for a provincial total of 2,554.

No new COVID-19 outbreaks were declared at healthcare facilities on Tuesday. There are 63 active COVID-19 outbreaks at healthcare facilities in B.C., including Brocklehurst Gemstone and Pinegrove Care Centre in Kamloops, and Mount Ida Mews in Salmon Arm. Interior Health reported a COVID-19 outbreak at Gillis House in Merritt on Monday, although that hasn’t been included in the province’s COVID-19 pandemic updates.

B.C. reported 1,446 new cases, with 319 of those in Interior Health. Reported active cases sit at 32,468 in the province and 7,297 in Interior Health.

As of Tuesday, 89.6 per cent (4,467,392) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 83.6 per cent (4,167,276) have received their second.

Additionally, 41.3 per cent (1,912,122) of British Columbians 12 and older have received a third dose.