B.C. reports 41 fewer people in hospital with COVID-19 and 9 more deaths

B.C. health officials reported 612people in hospital with COVID-19 on Thursday, including 102in intensive care,as the province recorded ninemore deaths from the disease and 597new cases.

The new numbers represent adecreaseof 41COVID-19 patients hospitalized within the last 24 hours, including sixfewerpatients in the ICU.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are down by 17.7per cent from last Thursday, when 744 people were in hospital with the disease and down about 38per cent from a month ago when 987people were in hospital.

Deaths also lag cases, with higher numbersa reflection of Omicron's surge last month.

The number of patients in intensive care is down by about 15per cent from 120a week ago and down by 21per cent from a month ago when 129people were in the ICU.

As ofThursday, 9.3per cent of COVID-19 tests in B.C. are coming back positive, according to the province's COVID-19 dashboard.The number had been above 20 per cent though most of January but has been falling allmonth, along with hospitalizations.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said thatanything above a five per cent test-positivity rateis an indicator of community transmission.

The provincialdeath toll from COVID-19is now 2,840lives lost out of 346,793 confirmed cases to date.

There area total of 29active outbreaks in assisted living, long-term, and acute care facilities.

Acute care outbreaksinclude:

• Burnaby Hospital.
• Langley Memorial Hospital.

As of Thursday, 90.9per cent of those five and older in B.C. hadreceived their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccineand 86per cent asecond dose.

From Feb. 16to 22, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 20.6 per cent of cases and from Feb. 9 to 22,they accounted for 33.4 per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province.

A total of 2.5 millionpeople have received a booster shot to date.

Doctor to face disciplinary hearing over misleading information

A B.C. doctor who's been touring the province and giving public speeches that include false claims about the COVID-19 vaccine is facing a hearing over professional misconduct allegations.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. has posted a notice online sayinga citation has been issued for family physician Dr. Charles Hoffeof Lytton for "publishing statements on social media and other digital platforms that were misleading, incorrect or inflammatory about vaccinations, treatmentsand public measures relating to COVID-19."

A college disciplinary panel will consider evidence that includes Hoffe's recommendation for patients to use the antiparasitic medication ivermectin to treat COVID-19, and suggesting they visit animal feed stores to buy the veterinary version of the treatment, according to the notice.

CBC News has contactedHoffe for comment,but he has yet to reply.