B.C. shifts case tracing plans, isolation periods following hospitalization analysis

Though the Omicron variant is more infectious than previous strains of COVID-19, the lower severity level and the shorter incubation period is leading to some changes.

New cases and hospital admissions in British Columbia have been slowing in past few days, however they are still high relative to what has been seen throughout this pandemic.

An analysis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in December and January found the single most important risk factor for severe illness from COVID 19 is age.

“People who are aged 80 and over are 28 times more likely to hospitalized if they get infected with COVID-19,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer.

“Once again we know that it is our seniors and elders who are most at risk in the community, in long-term care homes, and across the board. And really we see that major increase after age 70.”

Other factors found to increase the risk of hospitalization was being immune compromised; being a transplant recipients; having diabetes, respiratory illness, or heart conditions; and being pregnant.

She noted that figures recorded between September and October and December and January put the hospitalization rate under the Omicron variant at 1.2 per cent, which is well below the 6.2 per cent recorded under the Delta strain. It also showed that those considered to be very high risk had a hospitalization rate of 9.1 per cent with Omicron, compared to a rate of 58.3 per cent with Delta.

“That tells us that even with the high risk have a much lower hospitalization rate now than what we were seeing in the fall. This is a combination of factors, including the fact that most people, especially in the very high-risk categories, are vaccinated right now, but also it does reflect that Omicron is causing less severe illness in most people,” said Henry.

“The challenge, of course, that we have is that Omicron is infecting many more people so this lower hospitalization rate still translates into large numbers of people requiring hospital care and we’re seeing that impact in our hospitals right now.”

Henry said the analysis found some positive news in regards to vaccination. She said the vaccines can reduce the risk of hospitalization in people with those conditions by nine times after a booster dose.

“That third booster dose not just decreases your risk of being infected, but dramatically decreases your risk of needing hospitalization.”

Henry added that the Omicron variant has become difficult to trace due to the high infectiousness of the virus, the short incubation period, and the likelihood that most cases will involve mild symptoms. Because of these factors, contact tracing is no longer as effective in B.C.

“We now need to shift our management and think about the things we can do across the board to prevent transmission and to prevent ourselves from being exposed. The number one most important one of course is vaccination,” said Henry.

“Self management, so making sure we manage our own symptoms, and testing for those who are eligible for treatment and for people who are living or working in higher risk settings, that’s the change we’ve been making over these past few weeks as we’ve learned more and more about Omicron and how it is different from the other strains of SARS CoV-2 that we’ve seen.”

She noted this is a shift in the ways things have been handled since the onset of the virus, saying they are now focusing on managing COVID-19 like all other respiratory illnesses.

She advises people check themselves routinely and self-monitor for any illness, and if a person has symptoms then they should stay home until recovered.

Henry said anyone who thinks they have contracted the virus should consult the B.C. Centre for Disease Control’s symptom tracker. If the illness worsens then a test should be booked, and if not then stay home and isolate. A vaccinated individual must self-isolate for five days, while unvaccinated people must self-isolate for 10 days.

Henry noted that, despite these changes, the province has not reached an endemic point, but instead is changing approaches to best deal with the Omicron variant.

Henry also encouraged people get vaccinated to reduce the risk of contracting and passing along COVID-19, as well as reducing the risk of severe illness and hospitalization. She also reminds people to continue to practice good hand hygiene, wear a mask, keep groups small, and be extra cautious if at a higher risk.