New COVID data shows B.C. added 617 PCR-confirmed COVID cases between Aug. 28 and Sept. 3, with 86 being in Island Health.
B.C. currently only reports positive results from a PCR test, and only immunocompromised people, people with high-risk conditions, people 70 or older, people who aren’t fully vaccinated, or people whose medical care may be affected by a positive result are eligible for PCR tests.
The province does not have a way for people to report rapid test results and does not include rapid test results in COVID updates.
In the latest update, it was announced that 38 people died in B.C. of COVID or within 30 days from a positive lab result.
Between Aug. 28 and Sept. 3, there were 22 people who died, 10 between Aug. 21 and Aug. 27, and six between Aug. 21 and Aug. 27. This was on top of the 45 deaths each week previously announced by the BCCDC.
Each week the number of deaths are conditional and subject to change. As of April 2, 2022, the province changed to reporting all-cause mortality within 30 days of a positive test because cause of death can take approximately eight weeks to be properly recorded.
Of the people who died, six were in Island Health.
As of Sept. 8, there were 324 people hospitalized with COVID in the province, and 22 in critical care.
In Island Health there are 37 people hospitalized and 22 in critical care.
On Sept. 3, the positivity rate for COVID PCR tests in the province was 7.3, and 9.9 in Island Health.
Laura Brougham
