Predicted surge in patients prompts B.C. to reopen hospital emergency centresVANCOUVER — As the number of patients in British Columbia hospitals spikes, with the typical post-holiday surge still to come, the province's health minister said it will reactivate 20 emergency operation centres initially set up to deal with COVID-19. has 9,202 base hospital beds as well as 2,478 "surge" beds, or beds that need extra resources to operate. He said the occupancy rate was 88 per cent of the province's total hospital beds, but 111 per cent of base bed capacity, "which is significant and high." Staff at the centres will help patients who are ready to be discharged in an attempt to reduce overall hospital occupancy and ensure emergency departments have patient care beds available.

Source: CBC News January 06, 2023 20:38 UTC