B.C. reports 28 more people in hospital with COVID-19 and 6 more deaths since Friday

B.C. health officials reported288 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Monday, including 48 in intensive care,as the province recorded six more deaths from the disease and 556 new cases.

The new figures represent anincreaseof 28 COVID-19 patients in hospitalwithin the last 72 hours, and a decrease of twopatients in ICU.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are upby six per cent from last Monday, when 271 people were in hospital with the disease and down about 47.5per cent from a month ago when 549 people were in hospital.

The number of patients in intensive care is down by about two per cent from 49a week ago and down by 43.5 per cent from a month ago when 85people were in the ICU.

As ofMonday, 6.7per 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 in February, along with hospitalizations.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has saidanything above a five per cent test-positivity rateis an indicator ofa more worrying level oftransmission.

The provincialdeath toll from COVID-19is now 2,989 lives lost out of 355,648 confirmed cases to date.

There area total of six active outbreaks in assisted living, long-term, and acute care facilities, including an outbreak atSurrey Memorial Hospital.

As of Monday,90.8per cent of those five and older in B.C. hadreceived their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccineand 87.3 per cent asecond dose.

From March18 to 24, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 16.1per cent of cases and from March11 to 24,they accounted for 24.8per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province.

A total of 2.6 million people have received a booster shot to date.

B.C. students return to classroom

Students, teachers and staff across the province returnedto classafter spring break on Monday without arequirementto wear face masks indoors.

The province repealed most COVID-19 restrictions earlier this month amiddecreased transmission and high vaccination rates.

But with hospitalizations from COVID-19 in B.C. rising inthe past week, and new sub-variants leading to highercasenumbers in Europe, some remain uncertain about easing the rules as thepandemic continues.

"I feel that it's a bit too early for that, honestly," saidRavjot Sarao, a Grade 10 student at Surrey's L.A. Matheson Secondary School. "I feel if other people are not wearing masks, then some people will be cautious about not going too near them."

B.C.'s Ministry of Education has said wearing a mask is a personal choice that will besupported and respected.