Afternoon Update for April 10, 2020

NANAIMO —The province has put some meat on the bones of an order aimed at ensuring long term care home workers work at only one facility, to contain the spread of COVID-19. The order was implemented at most of the government-owned or funded facilities weeks ago, but reports emerged of workers at private and assisted living homes continued to work at more than one facility. The Minister of Health says a new agreement has been reached, to ensure the 4200 workers affected will not take pay cuts for working at just one facility. Adrian Dix says the new agreement will cost the province $10 million a month.

The Provincial Health officer will not hold a live briefing today. However, the latest COVID numbers will be posted online later this afternoon.

The province has made some last-minute changes to its Emergency Rent Subsidy program. When the subsidy was announced, it was to be a $500 per household benefit. Now, single renters will receive $300, but there is a further $300 subsidy if two people share a rental. The $500 subsidy will only apply if the renter has a dependent. You can apply for the benefit at the Ministry of Housing website.

Saysutshun / Newcastle Island Ferry. 📷: CHLY File Photo (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

BC Parks have been closed in an attempt to encourage people to stay home. However, parks and trails in the district of Nanaimo remain open. The city plans to deploy a team of Parks Ambassadors to remind people about social distancing in its busiest parks, including waterfront areas. All of Nanaimo's recreational facilities are closed. So too are all sports courts, skateboard parks and its four gated dog parks. In Ladysmith, community parks remain open to residents, but several parking lots have been closed. They include the Holland Creek Trail parking lots at the Dogwood Dip, Mackie Road and 6th Avenue near the RCMP detachment.

BC Ferries has made a number of changes to its Southern Gulf Island routes that come into effect today. For more information, go to BC Ferries and look for SGI Temporary Routes.

Churches across Vancouver Island will be celebrating Good Friday and Easter Sunday in a virtual way. Faith leaders across the province are encouraging their flocks to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. To that end, live streaming services are being offered by all of the cathedrals on Vancouver Island, and many smaller churches are also posting their services online.

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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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