Monday, December 22, 2025
ADVT 
National

COVID-19 down, influenza and RSV up in B.C, says CDC

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Nov, 2023 11:43 AM
  • COVID-19 down, influenza and RSV up in B.C, says CDC

New data suggest that COVID-19 activity in British Columbia is trending downward, while influenza and RSV are on the rise.

A weekly update provided Thursday by the BC Centre for Disease Control says COVID-19 cases, new hospitalizations and deaths are all declining from a peak in the first week of October.

It says there were 25 deaths of patients with COVID last week, down from 70 three weeks earlier.

But the number of people in hospital with COVID-19, including new and previous admissions, has risen to 263 as of Thursday.

The CDC says Influenza A is behind a rise in flu activity, accounting for 96 per cent of tested cases this season, while positive test rates for respiratory syncytial virus are also up, particularly among children.

However, it says emergency department visits due to all respiratory diseases remain comparable to or below historical averages.

MORE National ARTICLES

Shooting in Port Alberni

Shooting in Port Alberni
A man is in hospital and police are looking for a suspect vehicle after a shooting in Port Alberni. The R-C-M-P say it happened earlier today in a city back alley, leaving the victim with non-life-threatening injuries.

Shooting in Port Alberni

B.C. prison announces $287,000 seizure of contraband, from cellphones to steroids

B.C. prison announces $287,000 seizure of contraband, from cellphones to steroids
Prison officials in British Columbia say they've seized a large stash of contraband, including steroids and cellphones, smuggled into a maximum security institution outside Vancouver last week. Kim MacPherson, an assistant warden at Kent Institution, says the seizure was made on Aug. 24 thanks to staff vigilance. 

B.C. prison announces $287,000 seizure of contraband, from cellphones to steroids

Will updated COVID vaccines work against latest variant? Canadian scientists monitor global research

Will updated COVID vaccines work against latest variant? Canadian scientists monitor global research
Canada's first known case of the Omicron variant BA.2.86 was detected this week in British Columbia as the country became the seventh in the world to report its presence. Health Canada is currently reviewing applications for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's new mRNA vaccines, developed against the dominant XBB.1.5 variant ahead of a vaccination campaign set for the fall.  

Will updated COVID vaccines work against latest variant? Canadian scientists monitor global research

Avoid Stanley Park in Sept: VPB

Avoid Stanley Park in Sept: VPB
Vancouver's park board is urging Stanley Park visitors to avoid driving to Stanley Park in September to alleviate heavy traffic linked to large-scale events. The board says visitors should consider using alternative transportation methods or park elsewhere in the city.

Avoid Stanley Park in Sept: VPB

No alcohol at Van beaches

No alcohol at Van beaches
The City of Vancouver is cautioning people to stop consuming alcohol on beaches starting next week as a three-month pilot program comes to an end. The city's park board says alcohol consumption on Vancouver beaches will no longer be legal as of this coming Tuesday.

No alcohol at Van beaches

Cdn economy stagnant in Q2

Cdn economy stagnant in Q2
The latest G-D-P report showing the economy contracted at an annualized rate of 0.2 per cent in the second quarter may signal an end to the Bank of Canada's rate hiking campaign.

Cdn economy stagnant in Q2