What B.C.'s 'deep dive' into COVID-19 hospitalizations involves, and what that info will be used for

The province's top doctor is giving the public a better idea of what a previously promised "deep dive" into COVID-19 hospitalizations will entail.

The province's top doctor is giving the public a better idea of what a previously promised "deep dive" into COVID-19 hospitalizations will entail.

Speaking at a news conference Friday, Dr. Bonnie Henry provided more information on what is being examined.

She said this information will be used not only to guide the province's COVID-19 testing strategy, but also who will qualify for the treatments becoming available in the province.

The study has been underway for weeks, and so far has involved the analysis of more than 600 cases of people who were hospitalized and confirmed to have the disease.

During that period, the hospitalization rate of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C. was 1.2 per cent, she said. A team looked at why that small percentage of people required hospitalization, including whether they had underlying conditions or there were other factors involved.

This latest examination began as cases of the Omicron variant spread through the province, meaning those involved were looking at a much lower rate of hospitalization than during B.C.'s Delta wave, Henry said.

The focus of the latest analysis is what puts someone at greater risk of hospitalization now, though she said the trends are similar to those seen throughout the pandemic.