Coronavirus

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control continues to report COVID-19 cases on flights through Victoria. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

4 more flights through Victoria report COVID-19 onboard

One flight from Montreal, one from Edmonton, two from Calgary impacted

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control continues to report COVID-19 cases on flights through Victoria. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Victoria Conference Centre is being used for virus testing appointments, Oct. 6, 2021. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)

B.C. COVID-19 infections rise, 752 confirmed Wednesday

9 more deaths, hospitalized patients up to 350

COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Victoria Conference Centre is being used for virus testing appointments, Oct. 6, 2021. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)
Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Katharine Smart is shown in a handout photo. The Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association held an emergency summit Tuesday night to discuss how move forward since the pandemic brought the health system to a breaking point, with no end in sight. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO/Canadian Medical Association

CMA president decries ‘gaslighting’ of health-care workers over COVID-19 toll

Health-care sector facing a “huge data gap” in knowing what resources are available for them

Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Katharine Smart is shown in a handout photo. The Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association held an emergency summit Tuesday night to discuss how move forward since the pandemic brought the health system to a breaking point, with no end in sight. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO/Canadian Medical Association
FILE – Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Tracker says B.C. schools recording COVID-19 exposures at 10 times last year’s rate

Volunteer moms have logged more than 1,000 cases, ‘and it is only early October’

FILE – Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Healthcare workers from Women’s College Hospital prepare doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccine clinic in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood, in the M3N postal code, on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Despite rates of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations far exceeding other areas of the city, residents of the M3N postal code continue to struggle with the lowest vaccination rates in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Moderna asks Health Canada to authorize booster shot of its SpikeVax COVID-19 vaccine

Last month Moderna said there were signs immunity was waning the longer people got from their doses

Healthcare workers from Women’s College Hospital prepare doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccine clinic in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood, in the M3N postal code, on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Despite rates of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations far exceeding other areas of the city, residents of the M3N postal code continue to struggle with the lowest vaccination rates in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Wednesday’s federal vaccine requirement announcement doesn’t include BC Ferries. (Black Press Media file photo)

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements will not apply to BC Ferries’ passengers

Federally regulated transportation changes coming Oct. 30

Wednesday’s federal vaccine requirement announcement doesn’t include BC Ferries. (Black Press Media file photo)
A Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine is readied at a vaccination clinic in Dartmouth, N.S. on Thursday, June 3, 2021. A new study using Canadian data suggests the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus causes more serious disease and is associated with an increased risk of death compared to previous strains — dangers that are drastically reduced with vaccination. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Risk of death 133% higher with Delta than original COVID: Canadian study

Delta presents huge risk, especially for the unvaccinated who now make up the vast majority of COVID-19 cases

A Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine is readied at a vaccination clinic in Dartmouth, N.S. on Thursday, June 3, 2021. A new study using Canadian data suggests the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus causes more serious disease and is associated with an increased risk of death compared to previous strains — dangers that are drastically reduced with vaccination. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
(Pxfuel)

Keep Thanksgiving dinner small and vaccinated, Dr. Henry urges

Hundreds of new COVID cases continue to be reported each day

(Pxfuel)
Five staff at the long-term care home in Langley were confirmed to have COVID on Friday, April 2, 2021. Outbreaks continue to be reported in B.C. care homes, despite vaccination of most staff and residents. (Langley Advance Times)

B.C. senior home staff still struggling in COVID-19 ‘marathon’

Huge overtime increases recorded in Seniors Advocate review

Five staff at the long-term care home in Langley were confirmed to have COVID on Friday, April 2, 2021. Outbreaks continue to be reported in B.C. care homes, despite vaccination of most staff and residents. (Langley Advance Times)
An employee at Thrifty Foods on Simcoe Street in James Bay tested positive for COVID-19. (Google Maps)

Employee COVID-19 case confirmed at James Bay Thrifty Foods

Employee’s last day at work was Oct. 3

An employee at Thrifty Foods on Simcoe Street in James Bay tested positive for COVID-19. (Google Maps)
Health-care workers outside Nanaimo Regional General Hospital are thanked during a car cruise last year. (News Bulletin file photo)

OPINION: This Thanksgiving, let’s thank health-care workers

Island Health launches website encouraging people to leave messages of appreciation

  • Oct 6, 2021
Health-care workers outside Nanaimo Regional General Hospital are thanked during a car cruise last year. (News Bulletin file photo)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland make their way to hold a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

RCMP, corrections staff among federal public servants covered by new vaccine mandate

Plane and train travellers must be vaccinated by end of October

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland make their way to hold a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is given to a recipient at a vaccination site in Vancouver Thursday, March 11, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make good today on his election promise to require all federal employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Trudeau expected to announce all federal workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19

Policy is expected to go into effect by the end of this month, allow only very narrow exceptions

A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is given to a recipient at a vaccination site in Vancouver Thursday, March 11, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make good today on his election promise to require all federal employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie describes the findings of her survey of long-term care and assisted living residents under pandemic restrictions, B.C. legislature, Nov. 3, 2020. (B.C. government)

Seniors advocate to release review of COVID-19 outbreaks at B.C. care facilities

368 COVID-19 outbreaks at B.C. care facilities from January 2020 to September 2021 and 1,092 deaths

B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie describes the findings of her survey of long-term care and assisted living residents under pandemic restrictions, B.C. legislature, Nov. 3, 2020. (B.C. government)
Sarah Hoffman, Alberta Minister of Health, responds to a reporter’s questions at a press conference during the Conferences of Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Health in Winnipeg on June 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Alberta resumes COVID-19 contact tracing in schools, offers rapid testing

Kenney says cases are growing in children between five and 11 years old

Sarah Hoffman, Alberta Minister of Health, responds to a reporter’s questions at a press conference during the Conferences of Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Health in Winnipeg on June 28, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Peace tower is seen as politicians begin returning to work in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. The government’s draft policy to mandate vaccines for federal workers could close the door to allowing unvaccinated employees working from home, according to one union executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Draft policy says even telecommuting public servants must be vaccinated: union exec

Working from home may not give federal workers an out from the jab

The Peace tower is seen as politicians begin returning to work in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. The government’s draft policy to mandate vaccines for federal workers could close the door to allowing unvaccinated employees working from home, according to one union executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A union representing workers is calling for more safety measures at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Six new COVID-19 cases at Vancouver Island Regional Correction Centre

Union calls for more robust prevention measures and funding for the sake of all inside

A union representing workers is calling for more safety measures at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes questions in the legislature on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. The legislature has resumed sitting with most MLAs in attendance and vaccine required for all. (Hansard TV)

B.C. reports 593 more COVID-19 confirmed cases Tuesday

Hospital cases up to 345, 144 people in intensive care

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes questions in the legislature on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. The legislature has resumed sitting with most MLAs in attendance and vaccine required for all. (Hansard TV)
A music therapy program created for isolated seniors brought a little groove into the lives of White Rock and Surrey care-home residents, September, 2021. (Peace Arch News)

B.C. requires long-term care staff, visitor vaccination by Oct. 12

Only COVID-19 medical exemptions allowed for employees

A music therapy program created for isolated seniors brought a little groove into the lives of White Rock and Surrey care-home residents, September, 2021. (Peace Arch News)
FILE – A nurse prepares COVID vaccine doses in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, June 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

B.C. to offer 3rd COVID shot to 100K more immunocompromised people

Specific list will be available from BCCDC

FILE – A nurse prepares COVID vaccine doses in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, June 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh