Health Notes

COVID-19 in B.C.: Hospitalizations remain persistently high; infection rate falls for children between five and 11 years old

B.C. reported another 596 new cases on November 4, with the highest number occurring in Fraser Health

by Charlie Smith on November 4th, 2021 at 8:29 PM
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      B.C.'s latest modelling report for COVID-19 shows that the number of cases has seen a "steady decrease", according to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

      This hasn't been matched, however, by a corresponding fall in visits to hospital.

      "What is concerning on this is the persistently high—stubbornly high—rates of hospitalization," Henry said in a November 4 briefing to reporters.

      The blue line shows hospitalizations.

      She linked this to how contagious and virulent the Delta variant is. It packs a more powerful punch against younger people than the original COVID-19 virus.

      Most of those being infected nowadays and hospitalized since July 1 have not been vaccinated, according to Henry.

      Most hospitalizations and new COVID-19 cases in B.C. are among the unvaccinated.

      On the upside, Henry said there has been a sharp decrease in infection in school-age children between five and eight years old and nine and 11 years old. That has come after a spike following the start of the school year.

      Henry described this as a "true decrease", based on testing rates, and it's linked to overall decreases in COVID-19 rates in communities.

      School-age children between the ages of five and 11 cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19 until Health Canada gives this the go-ahead.

      This chart shows the sharp drop in infections among children between five and 11 years old.

      B.C. reported 596 new cases of COVID-19 on November 4, bringing the provincewide total to 207,716. Of those, 4,451 are considered active.

      There are 438 people in hospital due to COVID-19. Of those, 130 are in intensive care.

      The largest number of new cases, 222, occurred in Fraser Health. This region, which extends from Burnaby to Hope, also has the highest number of active cases at 1,927.

      Vancouver Coastal Health, in comparison, had 46 new cases and the total of active cases stands at 565.

      There were 159 new cases in Northern Health. It has 616 active cases.

      There were 115 new cases in Interior Health, bringing its total of active cases to 666.

      And there were 54 new cases and 618 active cases in Island Health.

      Eight new deaths were reported on November 4, increasing the overall total to 2,200.

      As the chart below shows, most of B.C.'s COVID-19 deaths have occurred in people over the age of 70. 

      COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths by age in B.C. are revealed in this chart.

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