B.C. surpasses 1,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations for the first time

VICTORIA — For the first time amid the COVID-19 pandemic, B.C. has more than 1,000 patients in hospital with the virus.

According to B.C.’s Ministry of Health, 1,048 patients are in hospital for Monday (Jan. 31), an increase of 58 since Friday. Of those patients, 138 are in intensive care, a decrease of three.

Between Jan. 14 and 27, B.C. reported 1,333 COVID-19 hospitalizations. The fully-vaccinated population accounted for 925 of those (69.4 per cent), the unvaccinated 349 (26.2 per cent), and the partially vaccinated 59 (4.4 per cent).

However, per 100,000 population adjusting for age, 88.4 patients were unvaccinated, 47.8 were partially vaccinated, and 19.8 were fully vaccinated.

In the past 72 hours, 19 new COVID-19 deaths were reported – eight in Interior Health – for a provincial total of 2,616.

There are 4,075 new reported COVID-19 cases over the weekend, including 1,182 in Interior Health. Reported active cases decreased to 27,454 (down by 3,061) in B.C. and 7,589 in Interior Health (down by 380).

The three-day breakdown is as follows:

• Jan. 28 to 29 – 1,725
• Jan. 29 to 30 – 1,293
• Jan. 30 to 31 – 1,057

New COVID-19 outbreaks were declared at eight healthcare facilities, none in Kamloops and area. There are 58 active outbreaks in B.C., including Overlander Residential Care and Pine Grove Care Centre in Kamloops and Mount Ida Mews in Salmon Arm.

As of Monday, 89.9 per cent (4,480,231) of eligible residents five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 84 per cent (4,184,629) have received both.

Additionally, 45.9 per cent (2,125,735) of British Columbians 12 and older have received a third dose.