Health

NewsAlert: COVID chosen Canadian Press news story of the year for 2020

TORONTO - The deadly virus that swept Canada this year dominated headlines as it killed thousands of Canadians, sickened tens of thousands of others and prompted profound social and economic dislocati...

Dec 15, 2020

Island Health COVID-19 cases steadily confirmed throughout weekend

NANAIMO - The number of new COVID-19 cases within Island Health remained steady during the weekend reporting period. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Monday, Dec. 14 confirmed an addition...

Dec 14, 2020

Top Stories of 2020: Overdose crisis in Nanaimo surges as tragic records broken across province

NANAIMO - COVID-19 wasn't the only health emergency in B.C. in 2020. By the end of October, the resurgent overdose epidemic had claimed nearly four times as many lives as the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly...

Dec 14, 2020

Canadian Press NewsAlert: Ontario administers first COVID-19 vaccine in Toronto

TORONTO - Ontario has administered the provinces' first COVID-19 vaccination to a health-care worker from a Toronto nursing home.Anita Quidangen, a personal support worker at the Rekai Centre, receive...

Dec 14, 2020

VIDEO: Heroic Arrowsmith SAR response saves man from rushing Little Qualicum Falls

QUALICUM BEACH - A swift and brave response from Arrowsmith SAR likely saved the life of a man stranded below the upper waterfall at Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park.A call for help came in Satur...

Dec 14, 2020

New COVID-19 cases in Island Health back in single digits

NANAIMO - The number of new COVID-19 cases within Island Health has fallen from the lofty highs of late November. Eight new cases were confirmed by the province for Island Health on Friday, Dec. 11. T...

Dec 11, 2020

Food donations matching strong holiday demand for Loaves and Fishes in Nanaimo

NANAIMO - Community generosity and increasing food donations to Nanaimo's food bank is keeping pace with heavy holiday demand. Peter Sinclair, executive director of the Loaves and Fishes Community Foo...

Dec 11, 2020

Outreach team building trust with Nanaimo's homeless youth

NANAIMO - A mobile outreach team is creating lasting connections with homeless youth desperate for supplies and comfort. The number of youth interacting with the mobile outreach program from the Nanai...

Dec 11, 2020

'We don't want to fall back:' patience urged as COVID-19 vaccination nears, 10 new Island Health cases

NANAIMO - One day following news of a COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, B.C. has come back down to earth following by far its most fatal day in the pandemic.Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 28 COVID-19 relate...

Dec 10, 2020

Health workers report burnout amid second wave, ask public to obey health rules

VANCOUVER - Sophia Gabiniewicz is well accustomed to dealing with stress as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. But she says it rose to a new level as th...

Dec 10, 2020