2024-08-03 BC – Pandemic in British Columbia

It looks like levels are flat or maybe going down a little bit, which I find surprising because the USA is going bonkers with COVID-19 right now.

Hospitals

This article (2024-08-02) reports that BC hospitals’ Emergency Departments — including some in Metro Van — have continued to have trouble staying open due to physician shortages.

On August 2, Peace Arch Hospital turned everyone away except those with serious emergencies. On Thursday afternoon, they posted on social media to notify the public that “Peace Arch Hospital will not be able to accept new patients at our emergency department” from 4 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2 until 7 a.m. Aug. 3; apparently they parachuted in some VCH doctors from other hospitals to keep it open.
On July 23, Mission Memorial Hospital turned everyone away from Emergency.
On July 17, Lions Gate Hospital’s ED was turning away everyone except those with serious emergencies.

Statistics

As of 1 August, the BC CDC situation report says that in the week ending on 27 July there were: +368 reported cases, +92 hospital admissions, +17 ICU admissions, and +19 thirty-day all-cause deaths*.

In the week ending 20 July, they report that there were +424 reported cases, +132 hospital admissions, +24 ICU admissions, and +29 thirty-day all-cause deaths*.

In the week ending 13 July, they report that there were +464 reported cases, +162 hospital admissions, +20 ICU admissions, and +29 thirty-day all-cause deaths*.

In the week ending 6 July, they report that there were +474 reported cases, +168 hospital admissions, +19 ICU admissions, and +29 thirty-day all-cause deaths*.

*All-cause deaths in people who had a positive COVID-19 test in the prior 30 days, that is.

There were 175 people in hospital and and 17 in critical care with COVID-19 on 1 Aug.