Students from Kindergarten to Grade Nine will get a different kind of COVID-19 test

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Court appearance today for Steven Michael Bacon in Makala Chang murder

The man accused of killing a Nanaimo teenager three and a half years ago, will make his first court appearance today. 60-year-old Steven Michael Bacon is charged with first degree murder in the death of Makayla Chang. The 16-year-old was last seen on March 17, 2017. Her body was discovered two months later but police won't say where. Bacon was arrested on an unrelated charge in New Brunswick more than a year ago. He was transferred to Thunder Bay after the Nanaimo murder charge was approved. He will appear in court by video conference from Thunder Bay.

New COVID-19 testing for children to be used in B.C. school districts

Students from Kindergarten to Grade Nine will get a different kind of COVID-19 test, one that is more comfortable than a nasal swab and does not require a nurse or doctor to administer it. The saline mouth rinse and spit test can be administered by a parent or the student, but it must be taken at a testing centre. BC's Provincial Health officer says the made in B.C. collection method is one of the first of its kind in the world. Dr. Bonnie Henry says it will help reduce wait times and make testing easier for children.

"It is a way that we've tried to make it more efficient so we don't have as long line ups and it doesn't take as long to do, but we've had limited supplies so to start with we've focused on children because we know right now it's going to be very critical for children, if they start showing symptoms of COVID-19 and they're in a school setting, many of them will need to be tested, so it's a way of trying to facillitate that and make it easier right now."–BC's Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry

Like with the nasal swab test, the new saline test will be sent to a lab for analysis, so it is not considered a rapid test.

COVID-19 Numbers

BC has set a new record for daily COVID-19 infections, with 165 new cases confirmed yesterday. That includes more than 100 new cases in the Fraser Health Region and one in the Island Health Region. Health officials say many of the new cases are people who were already self isolating because of close contact with others who have the virus. The new case counts also include two new outbreaks, at the Delta and Peace Arch Hospitals. There has been one new death reported, bringing BC total fatalities to 220. Fifty seven people are in hospital, including one in Island Health.

Forest March B.C.

People who are united against forest practises in B.C. are planning a march this afternoon. The loosely organized group, Forest March BC describes itself as being dedicated to "uniting and empowering B.C. communities by creating a network of engaged resistance and solidarity for nature-based management of B.C. forests,”
Marches are scheduled across 13 communities including Nanaimo, Victoria, Powell River, Comox Valley, Gabriola Island and Parksville. In Nanaimo, the march begins at 1pm at Diana Krall Plaza.