COVID-19 hospitalization nearing 1,000 in B.C.

VICTORIA — COVID-19 hospitalizations have nearly reached 1,000 in B.C.

According to the Ministry of Health, 987 patients are in hospital due to COVID-19 as of Monday (Jan. 24), an increase of 63 since Friday (Jan. 22). Intensive care patients slightly decreased to 129 (down by one).

Between Jan. 7 and 20, B.C. reported 1,256 COVID-19 hospitalizations. The fully vaccinated population accounted for 872 of those (69.4 per cent), the unvaccinated 325 (25.9 per cent), and the partially vaccinated 59 (4.7 per cent).

However, per 100,000 population adjusting for age, 81.7 patients were unvaccinated, 48.4 were partially vaccinated, and 18.7 were fully vaccinated.

In the past 72 hours, 24 new deaths were recorded – one in Interior Health – for a provincial total of 2,553.

There are 64 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 wasn’t included in the province’s COVID-19 pandemic update.

B.C. reported 4,997 new cases from Friday to Monday, with 1,251 of those in Interior Health. Reported active cases sit at 31,822 in the province and 7,021 in Interior Health.

The three-day breakdown is as follows:

• Jan. 21 to 22: 2,163 new cases
• Jan. 22 to 23: 1,489 new cases
• Jan. 23 to 24: 1,345 new cases

As of Monday, 89.6 per cent (4,465,993) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 83.6 per cent (4,166,318) have received their second.

Additionally, 40.4 per cent (1,874,956) of British Columbians 12 and older have received a third dose.