COVID-19 hospitalizations in B.C. have fallen to 345 – the lowest level since January 6.
The count for COVID-19 hospital patients has fallen in the last 25 consecutive government data updates, stretching back to February 7, when there were 987 such patients. Of those now in hospital, 50 are in intensive care units (ICUs).
The decline in hospitalizations is a large part of why B.C. health officials have loosened COVID-19 restrictions in B.C., including making wearing masks voluntary in indoor public spaces.
Other good news is that no one died from COVID-19 in the past day, leaving B.C.'s pandemic death toll at 2,946.
No new health-care facilities or seniors' homes have outbreaks, while five are newly declared over, leaving B.C. with eight active outbreaks in those sites.
Health officials detected 237 new infections in the past day. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, however, has told vaccinated people with mild symptoms to not get tested so as to free up tests for those who are more vulnerable. As a result she has called the daily case counts "not accurate."
The B.C. government on Feb. 10 stopped providing data for active infections, and the number of those considered to have recovered from COVID-19.
It still provides what it says is the province's cumulative total for infections: 352,965.
The vast majority of British Columbians are already vaccinated.
Vaccinations have helped prevent some infections, while making other infections less severe.
In total, 4,523,299 eligible B.C. residents have had at least one dose of vaccine, while 4,326,812 are considered fully vaccinated with two doses, and 2,628,454 have had three doses.
Recent Statistics Canada 2021 census data counted 5,000,879 residents in B.C.
Glacier Media's calculation therefore is that slightly more than 90.4 per cent of B.C.'s total population has had at least one dose of vaccine, and more than 86.5 per cent of the province's total population has had two doses. More than 52.5 per cent have had their booster doses. •
