17 more people die from COVID-19 in B.C., but hospitalizations continue to fall

B.C. health officials reported 846 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Friday, including 136 in intensive care, as the province recorded 17 more deaths from the disease and the seven-day rolling average of new deaths remainsin double-digits for the eighth straight day.

The new numbers represent adecreaseof 21 COVID-19 patients hospitalized within the last 24 hours, including two fewerpatients in the ICU.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are down by 10.6 per cent from last Friday, when 946 people were in hospital with the disease.

it's the fourth straight day hospitalizations have dropped in B.C., withthe number of people in hospitaldown 19 per cent since the beginningof the month.

Deaths also lag cases, with higher numbersa reflection of Omicron's surge last month.

Due to a data reporting change introducedJan. 14, month-to-monthhospitalization comparisons won't be available again until Feb. 14.

The number of patients in intensive care is downslightly by about 0.7per cent from 139 a week ago and upby 42per cent from a month ago when 97people were in the ICU.

As ofFriday, 16.9 per cent of COVID-19 tests in B.C. are coming back positive, according to the province's COVID-19 dashboard.The number had been above 20 per cent though most of January but began to fall this month, along with the number of people in hospital.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said thatanything above a five per cent test-positivity rateis an indicator of community transmission.

The provincialdeath toll from COVID-19is now 2,747 lives lost out of 338,792 confirmed cases to date.

There area total of 46 active outbreaks in assisted living, long-term, and acute care facilities, including an outbreak atNanaimo Regional General Hospital.

As of Friday,90.3per cent of those five and older in B.C. hadreceived their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccineand 85 per cent asecond dose.

From Feb. 3 to 9, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 23.7per cent of cases and from Jan. 27 to Feb. 9,they accounted for 31.3 per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province.

A total of 2.4 million people have received a booster shot to date.

Expanded vaccine mandate

The province's vaccine mandate for health-care workers has been expanded to includedentists, doctors, chiropractors, and other health practitioners regulated by B.C.'s health-care colleges.

Theyhave until March24to get theirfirstdose. Health professionals with one dose before March24 may continue to work as long as theyreceive a second dose 28-35 days after their first.

The new vaccine mandate is set to be rolled out in a phased manner, Henry said, and there will also be opportunities for those under the mandate to provide medical exemptions.

Restrictions on gatherings in B.C. areset to expire on Feb. 16.,and Health Minister Adrian Dix says the province is currently on track to see those restrictions eased or lifted.