B.C. likely hit COVID-19 transmission peak last weekend, officials say, revealing latest data
CTV
The latest COVID-19 wave may be on a downward trajectory in B.C., health officials announced Friday.
The latest COVID-19 wave may be on a downward trajectory in B.C., health officials announced Friday.
Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix shared the latest modelling data in a morning news conference, revealing they believe the local peak of infections was likely hit last weekend. Daily cases reached record-breaking levels recently, largely due to how transmissible the Omicron variant is.
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COVID-19 case data in the latest wave hasn't painted a full picture of how many people are infected with the disease as B.C. has struggled with its testing capacity. The more reliable PCR tests are being reserved for people who are more at risk for developing serious illness, unvaccinated or doing front-line work. Rapid tests, however, are still difficult for most people to access.
As a result, officials said Friday that PCR testing – and therefore reported case counts – just represents a subset of the community, but that it's a high-risk subset with high test-positivity rates. Officials said those positive PCR results are declining, adding that the specific case numbers aren't as important as the overall trajectory.
Officials suggested that transmission is still likely three to four times the numbers reported daily.
"We've been at the capacity of our PCR tests for a number of weeks now," Henry said.
