Health

Officials optimistic treatments will help ease COVID strain on Canada's health system

With COVID-19 hospitalizations in Canada still threatening to overwhelm the health-care system, officials hope two antiviral treatments could help ease the strain. A new study published in the Canadia...

Jan 20, 2022

Island Health pushes back elective surgeries at NRGH as part of 'temporary service adjustments'

NANAIMO - Staffing levels are behind a planned reduction of certain services at hospitals across Vancouver Island, according to the local health authority.A statement from Island Health issued Tuesday...

Jan 18, 2022

Province to lift restrictions on gyms & fitness centres, one day after extending

NANAIMO - A return to the iron paradise is coming sooner than first thought.A day after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry indefinitely extended orders put in place in late December which forc...

Jan 18, 2022

The 22 Day Challenge

Bestie and I are at it again – this time we decided to do a 22 Day Challenge to honour 2022. The idea is to do action items for 22 days in a row. Personally, I love the chemical rush of ch...

Stephanie Staples Jan 18, 2022

New round of neighbourhood safety audits coming to Nanaimo

NANAIMO -First of its kind safety audits introduced last year are being repeated to include new areas of the city to gauge how safe people feel in their local neighbourhood. Christy Wood, the City's c...

Jan 15, 2022

B.C. faring better than most amid fifth COVID wave

NANAIMO - The worst may be over in the fifth wave of COVID-19 cases, driven by the Omicron variant.Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presented another round of detailed case and hospitalizati...

Jan 14, 2022

Town of Ladysmith delays vaccine requirement policy until mid-March

LADYSMITH - The Town of Ladysmith is planning to implement a COVID-19 vaccination policy for its staff, but it won't be enacted until March 14.CAO Allison McCarrick said we are in an ever-changing sit...

Jan 13, 2022

COVID-19 outbreak announced at Nanaimo long-term care home

NANAIMO - Island Health announced a sizable COVID outbreak at a facility home to many vulnerable seniors. Nine resident cases at Dufferin Place beside Nanaimo Hospital was announced by Island Health o...

Alex Rawnsley Jan 13, 2022

Public consultation launched for planned affordable housing project in Harewood

NANAIMO - Public opinion will help shape an ambitious affordable housing community to be located in a central part of Harewood.Three neighouring properties are poised for redevelopment on Fifth St: th...

Jan 13, 2022

'We're getting the sense that we have leveled off somewhat:' optimism expressed by Dr. Bonnie Henry

NANAIMO - Following expected high COVID-19 transmission levels for the next few weeks, BC's public health officer expects the situation to improve.A cautiously optimistic tone from Dr. Bonnie Henry ca...

Jan 11, 2022