B.C.’s confirmed COVID-19 cases on the rise with 765 cases in one week

Though PCR testing in B.C. is still restricted in the province, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control’s weekly COVID report shows an increase in confirmed cases from the week before.

Between June 26 and July 2, 765 people tested positive for COVID-19, which is higher than the 620 the week before.

In Island Health, there were 139 positive PCR tests.

B.C. currently only reports numbers of people who test positive 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.

There were 12,104 tests conducted in the province, 1,105 were conducted in Island Health.

In the same week, 24 people died and 172 people were admitted to hospital, though both of these numbers are conditional and subject to change.

RELATED: Health officials urge people to get up-to-date with COVID vaccines

There are 369 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in the province as of July 7, and 36 in ICU.

In Island Health, there are 55 people currently hospitalized, four in ICU.

The test positivity rate in the province is 9.1, in Island Health it is 17.2.

In each weekly report, BCCDC updates the hospital admissions and deaths from the previous weekly reports.

Between June 19 and June 25 the province is now reporting 33 deaths, up from the 17 in the conditional numbers.

In the same week, there were 209 hospital admissions, up from 169.

The province also reported one more death in the week of June 12 to 18, with there now being 33 reported deaths that week, up from 32.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Adrian Dix said he’s considering making COVID-19 fourth booster shots widely available in the fall, as experts predict a third Omicron wave is on the way.

Dix, acting provincial health officer Dr. Martin Lavoie and COVID-19 vaccine rollout lead Penny Ballem will provide an update on the province's immunization plan Friday at 1 p.m.

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