B.C. reports spike of 47 more people in hospital with COVID-19 over the weekend

B.C. health officials reported 321 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Monday, including 36 in intensive care, as the province announced that information on the deaths recorded over the weekend has been delayed.

Another 728 new cases of the disease have been recorded in the last three days. A statement from the province says updated numbers on COVID-related deaths won't be available until Thursday.

The new numbers represent anincreaseof 47COVID-19 patients hospitalized since Friday, and one additional patient in the ICU.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are upby 11per cent from last Monday, when 288 people were in hospital with the disease.

The number of patients in intensive care isdown by about 25 per cent from 48a week ago.

As ofThursday, 7.3 per cent of COVID-19 tests in B.C. are coming back positive, according to the province's COVID-19 dashboard.The test positivity rate has begun to rise again after falling steadily through February and the first half of March.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has saidanything above a five per cent test-positivity rateis an indicator ofa more worrying level oftransmission.

One new health facility outbreak has been recorded at Burnaby Hospital. There area total of 10 active outbreaks in assisted living, long-termand acute care facilities.

As of Monday,90.9per cent of those five and older in B.C. hadreceived their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccineand 87.4 per cent asecond dose.

From March 25 to 31, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 18.6 per cent of cases and from March 18 to 31,they accounted for 20per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province. Unvaccinated people were about three times more likely to end up in hospital with the disease.

A total of 2.68 million people have received a booster shot to date.

The latest numbers follow news that B.C. Premier John Horgan has tested positive for COVID-19. The 62-year-old leaderrecently underwent treatment for throat cancer, which puts him at higher risk of a more serious outcome from the disease.