The positive rate for publicly administered PCR tests between March 25 and March 31 is 14 percent, down from 22 percent last week. This translates to 21 tests administered within this time frame. In the last week of March, UBC saw three new cases of COVID-19 and a rate of two cases per 100,000 people. This is slightly lower than the case rate from last week, as well as in surrounding neighborhoods such as West Point Gray and Kitsilano, which recorded between 3-4 cases per 100,000 people. These numbers do not take into account the results of rapid antigen tests, which are available to students through local pharmacies. As the county plans to lift various vaccine orders by this Friday, public health officials reported an increase in hospitalizations, which increased from 321 on Monday to 334 the next day, as well as two new cases in health care facilities. Tests at five sewage treatment plants across the province also show that SARS-CoV-2 virus concentrations are rising. Vaccine coverage has increased to 96 percent for residents aged 5 and over, while 86 percent of people aged 70 and over have received a third dose, which is similar to surrounding areas. Provincial health officials said a second booster dose would be offered to seniors living in nursing homes, people over the age of 70 and anyone who is immunosuppressed next month. Vaccination requirements for homes after secondary education are also waived. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry says she expects to see a steady increase in cases in the coming months followed by a “gradual [decrease] again.” The province will also make changes to the way it reports COVID-19 data, announcing that the daily reports will be replaced by weekly reports, complemented by an automated system that links laboratory data related to PCR test results. This is as the Ministry of Health limits the number of PCR tests it administers to around 5,000 per day, making daily case measurements a less relevant measure of pandemic severity. Every Thursday morning, the BCCDC control panel will also display the death counts of anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of death – regardless of whether the virus was the immediate cause of death.
