B.C. records 341 new cases of COVID-19 and 9 more deaths

B.C. health officials announced 341 new cases of COVID-19 and nine moredeaths on Thursday.

In a written statement, the provincial government said there are currently 2,915active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 220people are in hospital, with 73in intensive care.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are down by about 23per cent from last Thursday,when 284people were in hospital with the disease and about 48 per cent from a month ago when 426people were in hospital.

The number of patients in intensive care is down by about 25per cent from 97a week ago and by about 41per cent from last month when 124people were in the ICU.

The provincial death toll from COVID-19 is now 2,378 lives lost out of 221,576 confirmed cases to date.

The regional breakdown of new cases is as follows:

• 98 new cases in Island Health, which has 606total active cases.
• 83 new cases in Fraser Health, which has 881total active cases.
• 70 new cases in Interior Health, which has 576total active cases.
• 61 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, which has 538total active cases
• 29 new cases in Northern Health, which has 262total active cases.
• There are nonew cases among people who reside outside of Canada, a group which has twototal active cases.

Thereare a total of fiveactive outbreaks in assisted living and long-termand acute care.

Acute care outbreaksinclude:

• Ridge Meadows Hospital inFraser Health
• St. Paul's Hospital inVancouver Coastal Health

As of Thursday, 91.4 per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccine, 88per cent asecond dose and 12per cent a third dose.

When taking into accountthose five and older, 85.9per cent of people in B.C. had received a first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and 82.1 per cent a second dose.

From Dec. 1 to Dec. 7, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 57.7 per cent of cases and from Nov. 24 to Dec. 7,they accounted for 63.5per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province.

So far, 8.9 milliondoses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.

Canada underutilizing rapid tests, experts say

Health-care professionals across the country are warning that rapid tests are not being utilized enough by the government.

Despite Ottawa having purchased 94 million tests, there are still challenges accessing them.

Some jurisdictions have reserved these tests primarily for schools and businesses.

"If you could go to your bathroom medicine cabinet, open up a test, put a small swab in your nose, and within 10 or 15 minutes know whether or not you pose a risk to others I mean, just imagine how much easier that would be to do," said toxicologist David Juurlink.

Health Canada said while each province and territory is responsible for how they test residents, they are guided by a national approach, which is toensure long-term care homes, schools, vulnerablecommunities and other sectors have access to rapid tests.