The landscape of COVID-19 related hospitalizations in British Columbia has taken a promising turn this month. Following an alarming peak last month, the number of individuals in hospital battling the virus has seen a significant decrease.
As of last Thursday, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported a total of 263 individuals in the hospital due to COVID-19, showing a marked decrease from the distressing 422 cases recorded at the start of the month, which was an almost 14-month high. The numbers reflect a substantial 38 per cent drop over the past three weeks.
The reported statistics account for not just those directly admitted due to COVID but also those who have tested positive incidentally after being hospitalized for other medical conditions. Thus, the data creates a more accurate depiction of the total hospital-based impact of the virus in real-time.
Assessing these figures from both a standalone standpoint and in comparison to the ongoing trendline provides valuable insights into the current state of the coronavirus transmission within the province.
From this standpoint, since the worrying surge in early October, there has been a consistently downward trajectory of virus spread. This data is also corroborated by a steady decrease in the number of positive infection cases and test positivity rates, as observed across the province.
Most recently between Oct. 15 and Oct. 21, infections confirmed through lab-testing saw a fall to 571 cases, from 739 during the previous epidemiological week. This trend reflected in test positivity rates, which decreased to 16.4 per cent in the week ending Oct. 21 from 19.4 per cent the preceding week, and 23.4 per cent in the last week of September.
Wastewater surveillance data supplements this information, showing a declining rate of increase in virus concentrations in the Lower Mainland’s population, which is not eligible for lab-based testing. Even as all five treatment plants in the Lower Mainland show virus growth of eight per cent or less, the overall picture across B.C. remains consistent with a decrease in the rate of virus’ spread.
In conclusion, this combination of data trends serve as a beacon of hope and reaffirms the steady progress British Columbia has been making in its battle against COVID-19, demonstrating the province’s resilience and determination to overcome these testing times.
