Health

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 grow slightly on Vancouver Island, hospitalizations decrease

NANAIMO - The province has reported two additional cases of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island. Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed the additional positive test results in the Island Health region on Wednesday, Apri...

Alex Rawnsley Apr 08, 2020 Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks from the press theatre in the Parliament Building in Victoria, delivering her daily COVID-19 update. (BC Government Flickr)

Homelessness count shows data behind escalating crisis on Nanaimo streets

NANAIMO - Early results from a homeless census in Nanaimo confirms what many people already know.Preliminary data from the Nanaimo point-in-time count, run by the Nanaimo Region of the John Howard Soc...

Apr 08, 2020 A cart outside St. Peter's Church, which ran an overnight shelter and unfortunately closed as planned on March 30. (United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island)

Hiker injured during alleged dog attack near Nanoose Bay

NANOOSE BAY - Oceanside RCMP are searching for a family and owners of a brown doberman dog following an alleged attack on a popular hiking trail.Police said in a release the doberman attacked a hiker ...

Apr 08, 2020 An alleged dog attack sent one hiker to hospital with injuries while police said the owners of the dog fled the scene. (Google Streetview)

No new COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island as B.C. continues to flatten the curve

NANAIMO - The growing trend of fewer COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island and across British Columbia continued Tuesday, April 7. Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, announced no new cases in t...

Alex Rawnsley Apr 07, 2020 Dr. Bonnie Henry delivers her daily COVID-19 address at the Parliament Buildings Press Theatre in Victoria. (BC Government Flickr)

Meal program re-tooled for Nanaimo-area students learning at home

NANAIMO - Feeding hungry students trying to learn at home instead of school is a priority for the re-launched Nanaimo Ladysmith Schools Foundation meals program.A sorting depot at John Barsby Secondar...

Apr 07, 2020 Volunteers are busy compiling much-needed hampers for the NLSF meals program destined for students learning at home due to COVID-19. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

N-95 respirators and emergency relief on the way for Canada

OTTAWA - Coveted N95 respirators will continue to come to Canada from a Minnesota-based company while the country keeps rolling out a financial assistance program Tuesday. 3M says it will maintain its...

Apr 07, 2020

Non-medical masks can keep people with COVID-19 from spreading it, Tam says

OTTAWA - Wearing a simple cloth mask is a way for someone who might have COVID-19 without realizing it to avoid spreading the illness to others, Canada's top public-health doctor said Monday.Dr. There...

Apr 06, 2020

COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island make small jump over the weekend

NANAIMO - The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island didn't jump as high as it has after coming off a weekend. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Monday, April 6 ther...

Apr 06, 2020 Dr. Bonnie Henry discussing how B.C.'s curve of COVID-19 cases is flattening. (Gov't of B.C.)

Nanaimo's Harmac mill working around the clock to create medical supplies

NANAIMO - A Nanaimo mill is doubling its production to help create more medical supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Levi Sampson, president of Harmac Pacific, said the roughly 300 workers at the mill...

Apr 06, 2020 Harmac Pacific has doubled operations of a medical-grade pulp to build more medical supplies like gowns and masks, which are desperately needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Canadian Press NewsAlert: Non-medical masks can keep people with COVID-19 from spreading it, Tam says

OTTAWA - Wearing a simple cloth mask is a way for someone who might have COVID-19 without realizing it to avoid spreading the illness to others, Canada's top public-health doctor said Monday.Dr. There...

Apr 06, 2020