As of Wednesday, there were 22 COVID-19 patients at Richmond Hospital including two in the intensive care unit.
And between Jan. 1 and 12, 20 surgeries and procedures were cancelled at Richmond Hospital.
“Surgery postponements are stressful for people and we want to assure these people that rescheduling all surgeries as quickly as possible is a priority,” Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) said in a statement to the Richmond News.
However, emergency and urgent surgeries are continuing, the statement added.
While hospitals aren’t overwhelmed yet with COVID-19, the number of hospitalized patients across B.C. hit 500 this week, the highest since April 30.
ICU beds were about 64 per cent full across the province, according to the Health Minister Adrian Dix.
The number of cases detected continues to be high in Richmond, albeit lower than last week, as the Omicron variant of the virus is spreading at a rapid rate.
From Jan. 4 to 10, there were 456 positive COVID-19 cases detected in Richmond, down from 567 the previous week.
The number of people who test positive might not reflect the total number, however, and Dr. Bonnie Henry recently recommended people who are vaccinated and have mild symptoms shouldn’t necessarily get tested.
COVID-19 cases in Richmond neighbourhoods: Jan. 4-10 (per 100,000 residents in brackets)
City Centre: 122 (29)
East-West Cambie/Bridgeport: 75 (39)
Thompson/Seafair: 60 (24)
Broadmoor: 59 (33)
Gilmore/Shellmont/East/Hamilton: 51 (32)
Blundell: 46 (34)
Steveston: 43 (23)
- With files from BIV/Glen Korstrom
