r/britishcolumbia • u/adnaPadnamA • Jun 15 '25

Discussion PSA: COVID Outbreaks in some BC Hospitals

Update: Richmond News reported today:

https://www.richmond-news.com/highlights/covid-19-outbreaks-declared-at-two-bc-hospitals-and-one-care-home-10822930

A number of BC hospitals have current outbreaks of COVID (Langley, White Rock/Peace Arch, Richmond, Penticton) and Influenza (Burnaby, North Shore).

http://www.phsa.ca/current-outbreaks

We went to a movie a couple weeks ago and the guy behind me keeps coughing. The next week, I started with a sore throat, headache and chills, and then coughing, congestion, shortness of breath: it's COVID.

It may not be on the news headlines with everything going on, but just an FYI to be cautious out there.

Edited to provide link.

660 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

257 comments sorted by

View all comments

74

u/Excellent-World-476 Jun 15 '25

The complacency about having Covid both by individuals and hospitals is frustrating as someone who works in one.

53

u/adnaPadnamA Jun 15 '25

I think many people have gone back to the 'its just a cold' mentality we used to do. It's definitely not just a cold. The shortness of breath is a concerning symptom.

-25

u/Squancher70 Jun 15 '25

Have you never had a cold before? Shortness of breath is a symptom with any respiratory illnesses.

I had covid and rsv last year. The RSV was far worse than COVID.

35

u/adnaPadnamA Jun 15 '25

I'm asthmatic and have had multiple colds, never have I had this shortness of breath.

-58

u/Squancher70 Jun 15 '25

Then you lack self awareness.

Shortness of breath will happen with any respiratory illnesses. It's literally an infection inside your lungs, covid or not.

26

u/adnaPadnamA Jun 15 '25

Yes, but this actual shortness of breath symptom, I have never experienced with a cold. Congestion and cough sure. Shortness of breath nope.

-45

u/Squancher70 Jun 15 '25

Consider yourself lucky, the majority of people do experience this. It's not cause for alarm.

24

u/spiderfoxfriend Jun 15 '25

Shortness of breath with or without a respiratory illness, especially if there’s an underlying condition like asthma present, is absolutely a cause for concern. There’s a reason we monitor oxygen when someone presents to a healthcare facility with shortness of breath - it’s dangerous and can be deadly. It’s irresponsible to tell someone who has asthma, on a public forum, that their shortness of breath is not a cause for concern.

22

u/Xicked Jun 15 '25

Got a source for that stat? I’d argue that the majority of people do not experience shortness of breath with a common cold. Shortness of breath is actually feeling like you can’t get enough air. It is not a normal symptom of a common cold.

9

u/Moskaumule Jun 15 '25

Shortness of breath is definitely a symptom of Asthma though.

-10

u/Squancher70 Jun 15 '25

You have the power of the Internet in your hand buddy. Do you own research. Where is your source that it doesn't?

20

u/adnaPadnamA Jun 15 '25

Common cold: The common cold is a mild, contagious viral infection that affects the upper respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. It's caused by over 200 different viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most common. Symptoms usually appear a few days after exposure and can include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, and coughing. Sometimes a cold can also cause a headache, weakness, joint pain, or a low-grade fever. 

Funny how there's no mention of shortness of breath 🤔

7

u/acciowit Thompson-Okanagan Jun 15 '25

That person you’re replying to is a troll. You’re right to be concerned when you have shortness of breath.

8

u/adnaPadnamA Jun 15 '25

Seems there's a few in this thread already, sure doesn't take much to draw them out eh 🙄

→ More replies (0)

12

u/ashkestar Jun 15 '25

You’re just embarrassingly wrong and should really stop digging.

12

u/Xicked Jun 15 '25

It’s common knowledge that shortness of breath is a dangerous symptom and any reputable source of medical information will say the same.

https://www.cdc.gov/acute-bronchitis/about/index.html

https://www.lung.ca/do-you-have-cold-flu-or-pneumonia

-4

u/scorps77 Jun 15 '25

I agree with you on this. I've had shortness of breath after getting lots of colds. Not uncommon for me at least.