Crowding in Hospitals

(Ben Nelms/CBC)

COVID-19 hospitalizations in BC have decreased rapidly over the past month, alleviating pressure on the once overcrowded hospital system in the province.

Hospitalizations peaked at 1,048 on January 31, and have since gone down to 549 on March 1, a decrease of 52 per cent. During the peak in cases, Adrian Dix, BC’s Minister of Health reported that 95 per cent of hospital beds were occupied. 

Experts say 85 per cent is the target occupancy rate for hospital beds. Currently, BC’s hospital system has been brought down to a more reasonable occupancy rate.

According to CTV News Vancouver, active and lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have reached over 33,000. 

BC Ministry of Health data has reported the numbers of missed work shifts per day to be over 3,800 among 120,000 of BC’s health care workers in the first week of January 2022. Despite the cases dropping day by day, some of the hospitals in BC are still understaffed and unequipped. 

An analysis by Health Emergency Management BC stated that due to doctor shortages, emergency departments were “awaiting further guidance on whether COVID-positive physicians could work in any capacity.” Doctors and nurses are out sick and COVID patients who have been tested positive have little to no space to isolate themselves from other patients while waiting to be admitted.

Experts agree that vaccination is the best step to prevent hospitalization due to COVID.

According to COVID-19 Tracker Canada, nearly 90 per cent of BC’s vaccine-eligible residents have received at least one dose and over 85 per cent have received two doses. People who are fully vaccinated with a third dose make up around only 49 per cent of BC’s population.