The number of COVID-19-positive patients in BC hospitals has more than doubled since the end of March, with 570 hospitalized as of Thursday. At this time last week, there were 485 patients in hospital. On March 31, there were 281.
The number of patients in critical care has also risen, from 38 as of last Thursday to 47 this week.
The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital on Thursday each week since the province began including all test-positive patients in its hospitalization count in January 2022 is shown in this graph by CTV News.
Hospitalization totals include both those who have serious illness caused by COVID-19 and those who are admitted to hospital for other reasons and test positive incidentally.
Since the province began this “hospital census” approach in January, the high point for patients in hospital on a Thursday has been 985, which BC hit in early February. Weekly hospitalization totals hit a low of 255 late last month.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.