B.C. reports 19 more people in hospital with COVID-19, 3 fewer in the ICU and no additional deaths

B.C. health officials said Wednesday that 317 people are in hospital with COVID-19, including 83 in intensive care, as the province reported 3,798 new cases of the disease and no additional deaths.

The new numbers represent a jump of 19 COVID-19 patients hospitalized within one day, including three fewer patients in the ICU.

Experts say hospitalizations are a more accurate barometer of the disease's impact, as new case numbers in B.C. are likely higher than reported now that the province has hit its testing limit because of the Omicron surge.

As of Monday, 23.2 per cent of tests are coming back positive — the highest seven-day rolling average that B.C. has seen during the pandemic. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said that anything above a five per cent test- positivity rate indicates a concerning level of community transmission.

In a written statement, health officials said there are now 29,967 active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

Overall hospitalizations are up by 54 per cent from last Wednesday, when 206 people were in hospital with the disease, and by 32 per cent from a month ago when 241 people were in hospital. 

The number of patients in intensive care is up by about 26 per cent from 66 a week ago and down by seven per cent from a month ago when 89 people were in the ICU.

The provincial death toll from the disease is now 2,427 out of 270,508 confirmed cases to date.

The regional breakdown of new confirmed cases is as follows:

There are 21 active outbreaks in long-term care, acute care, and assisted living facilities. 

As of Wednesday, 88.3 per cent of people over the age of five in B.C. had received a first shot and 83 per cent a second dose.

A new high 36,210 people in B.C. received booster shots on Tuesday, as the province's new vaccine strategy ramps up.