Health

New COVID-19 cases remain high in Island Health and across province

NANAIMO - Fluctuating numbers of new COVID-19 cases within Island Health are surging once more. Island Health reported 37 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, March 19, from a low of 16 two days before. At t...

Mar 19, 2021

Vaccine rollout ramps up, Canada Day target for everyone receiving first shot

NANAIMO - B.C. public health is setting a new ambitious target for everyone receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Thursday, March 18, announ...

Mar 18, 2021

Growing downtown Nanaimo encampment evicted, fence erected around Italian Fountain

NANAIMO - A growing encampment in the heart of Nanaimo is no more. City of Nanaimo bylaw staff, observed by Nanaimo RCMP, displaced people experiencing homelessness from Italian Square Park on Thursda...

Mar 18, 2021

U.K. study rules out link to some blood clots from AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine

OTTAWA - The United Kingdom's drug regulator says a "rigorous scientific review" has ruled out the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as the cause of blood clots in veins but is doing a more detailed study lo...

Mar 18, 2021

Island Health's active COVID-19 case count continues downward slide

NANAIMO - Island Health's COVID-19 curve is continuing a gradual path downwards with another day of below-average case counts.The health authority confirmed just 16 cases on Wednesday, March 17. Eight...

Mar 17, 2021

Island Health confirms 29 new COVID-19 cases, central Island dips below 100 active

NANAIMO - New COVID-19 cases in B.C. and the Island Health region continue outpacing recent averages.Island Health confirmed 29 new cases on Tuesday, March 16, including 18 within the central Island r...

Mar 16, 2021

Half of Canadians want first COVID-19 vaccine available: Poll

OTTAWA - A new poll suggests about half of Canadians are willing to get immunized against COVID-19 with the first vaccine they're offered, while one quarter would be willing to wait to get a shot they...

Mar 16, 2021

B.C.'s Astrazeneca vaccine supply declared safe following blood clot reports in Europe

NANAIMO - The province is downplaying concerns around the safety of the Astrazeneca vaccine in B.C., after reports of blood clots developing in vaccinated people throughout Europe.Provincial health of...

Mar 15, 2021

COVID mass vaccination clinics underway in Nanaimo and Parksville

NANAIMO - Seniors with appointments are rolling up their sleeves to get their first COVID-19 shots.Seniors at least 90-years-old living at home and Indigenous elders 65-years-old and up began receivin...

Mar 15, 2021

Coming week will see trickle of COVID-19 vaccine doses before floodgates open

OTTAWA - The Public Health Agency of Canada is expecting a smaller-than-normal shipment of COVID-19 vaccines this week, with fewer than 445,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech shots scheduled for delivery ov...

Mar 15, 2021