Health

COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island increase to 92, testing strategies redeployed for early detection

NANAIMO - British Columbia's battle against COVID-19 continues to hold steady with the province flattening the curve.Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer announced 44 new cases across the provi...

Apr 15, 2020 Dr. Bonnie Henry delivers her daily briefing to an empty press theatre at the Parliament Building in Victoria. (BC Government Flickr)

'What's going to happen?' Alberta teen recounts brush with death from COVID-19

OKOTOKS, Alta. - Matt Greenshields never worried about COVID-19 until he found himself thinking about death as he was being wheeled down the empty, darkened hallways of a hospital on his way...

Apr 15, 2020

Slight increase in COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island, renewed focus on long-term care homes

NANAIMO - The provincial health officer has confirmed two addition COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the last 24 hours. Dr. Bonnie Henry said the Island Health region now has 89 confirmed positive...

Alex Rawnsley Apr 14, 2020 Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry discusses the latest COVID-19 case numbers in British Columbia during her daily briefing. (BC Government Flickr)

Health Canada warns against "fraudulent and unauthorized" N95 masks

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning Canadians about the risks of using fraudulent and unauthorized N95 masks that may not offer protection against COVID-19. The organization said it has r...

Apr 14, 2020

Government enacts stricter quarantine measures for returnees to Canada

OTTAWA - Starting at midnight, the federal government says all people returning to Canada will have to check in to a hotel or other designated site unless they have an acceptable self-quarantine plan....

Apr 14, 2020

Do as we say, not as we do? Trudeau, Scheer forced to defend family trips

OTTAWA - Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer are fighting off criticism that they're asking Canadians to do more to stop the spread of COVID-19 than they're willin...

Apr 14, 2020

Three new COVID-19 cases confirmed on Vancouver Island, province nears 1500

NANAIMO - The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island has continued its gradual climb.Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, announced three new cases in the Island Health region....

Apr 13, 2020 Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced new COVID-19 positive tests in British Columbia on Monday, April 13. (BC Government Flickr)

Health Canada approves Spartan Bioscience's portable COVID-19 test

Health Canada has approved the use of a portable, rapid-testing device for COVID-19. The Spartan Cube from Ottawa's Spartan Bioscience is expected to help provide rapid tests for health services&...

Apr 13, 2020

No new COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island, province reinforces stay home measures

NANAIMO - The Island Health region continues to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced no new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, April 11. It keep...

Alex Rawnsley Apr 11, 2020 Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, delivers her daily briefing on COVID-19 cases with health minister Adrian Dix standing by in Victoria. (BC Government Flickr)

Nanaimo's Salvation Army brings meal program outdoors

NANAIMO - Stomachs don't have to go empty during the COVID-19 crisis.Salvation Army Nanaimo recently put their emergency vehicle outfront the New Hope Centre in downtown Nanaimo to continue their meal...

Apr 10, 2020 The Salvation Army has called in their emergency response truck to serve meals. (submitted/Salvation Army)