Noon News Update for May 13 2020

📷 A boat overturned Monday Evening near Hornby Island, resulting in a death / via Phoenix Wolf-Ray (CC BY 2.0)

NANAIMO—There has been another death on the water, this time off Hornby Island. Hornby Island Fire Rescue says it was called out yesterday evening to tend to a patient with hypothermia as the result of an overturned boat. While en route more information came in that there was a second patient, possibly deceased. Rescue crews were dispatched and found the man at Norris Rock, but he was unresponsive and rescuers were unable to revive him. The BC Coroner's service confirms it is investigating the death of a man in his 70s. Hornby's Fire Chief, Doug Chinnery says the deceased man was not wearing a life jacket when his boat overturned, and he was unable to stay afloat. His friend was able to drag him to Norris Rock, then righted the capsized boat and rowed to Hornby to get help. This death follows one on Sunday night at North Saanich Marina. A man in his 50s died and two others were taken to hospital after a fire onboard the man's boat spread to the fuel dock.

As more people are expected to head on to the water or into the backcountry this weekend, search and rescue groups are sounding the alarm. The organization "BC Adventure Smart says BC recorded a 35 per cent spike in search and rescue incidents during the first week of May, compared to the same week last year. The ongoing pandemic has added to concerns among search and rescue groups who face even more risks from COVID-19. "BC Adventure Smart" is hosting a seminar on Google Hangouts tonight on how to stay safe and survive when venturing into nature. It starts at 7 p.m. For more information check the BC Adventure Smart Facebook page.

BC's Minister of Health is urging people to think twice about posting unverified information about COVID-19 from dubious sources. Adrian Dix says so-called "conspiracy groups" like the one that protested in front of a Vancouver hospital on Sunday do not deserve attention. BC's Provincial Health Officer says her goal in holding daily briefings is to combat misinformation that is widely circulated on social media sites. Dr. Bonnie Henry says reliable information can be found on the Government of BC's Facebook page and websites of the BC Centres for Disease Control and the Provincial Health Office.

Meanwhile, health planners are looking for your input through a survey that is open until the end of this month. The 15-minute long survey asks questions, related to your experience under the pandemic. Dr. Henry says the information will guide pandemic planners in their next steps. The online questionnaire is at BCCDC.ca/covid19survey, or you can take the survey by telephone. The toll-free number is 1-833-707-1900.

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Lisa Cordasco

Senior Reporter and News Director — Lisa is responsible for creating the station's first morning news current affairs show on CHLY. She is also deeply involved in training and mentoring student and citizen journalists who volunteer their time at the station. Before joining CHLY, Lisa spent 35 years in various roles at CBC Radio, from host to reporter. Her passion for journalism and radio has led her to Nanaimo, where she intends to provide CHLY listeners with news they can use, in an alternative radio environment. Her other not-so-secret passion is costuming for any occasion.

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