Evening Update for March 23rd, 2020.

*VIUSU has pledged $75,000 to an Emergency Bursaries Fund. File Photo by Jesse Woodward.*

NANAIMO —The Provincial Health Officer says 145 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in BC since Sunday afternoon. That brings the total number to 617, with 44 of those cases on Vancouver Island. Dr. Bonnie Henry says no new deaths have been reported.

Vancouver Island University students will soon have access to emergency funds, thanks to a new Emergency Student Bursary Fund. The VIU Students Union says some students are struggling with some serious financial issues like reduced or non-existent job opportunities due to the coronavirus outbreak. The student union has pledged $75,000 dollars to the fund which was matched by the VIU Foundation. The fund aims to raise $250,000 dollars to provide emergency funds for the basic necessities of life. For more information and to donate, visit the Emergency Bursaries Fundraising webpage.

Starting tomorrow, all transit buses are moving to the summer schedule. Riders can expect less frequent service.

Nanaimo's Loaves and Fishes food bank says clients can no longer shop in their depots. The COVID-19 outbreak means clients can pick up a prepackaged bag of food at its Farquar Street location during the week, and at its Generations Church site on Saturday. For opening hours, please check the website at nanaimoloavesandfishes.org.

The Harmac Pacific Mill near Nanaimo is working full steam ahead, because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Harmac produces a blend of pulp that is used to make medical masks, gowns, drapes, screens and other hospital supplies. President Levi Sampson told CBC Radio an American company has doubled its orders for pulp over the past week. Sampson says all 300 employees are fully employed, and there are no plans to hire more workers.

The federal government has announced the closure of all National Parks. In BC, provincial parks remain open except Mount Seymour and Cypress on the lower mainland. Regional District parks remain open but there is no camping allowed. All playgrounds, sports courts and gated dog parks are also closed.

The coronavirus outbreak has put the breaks on local government meetings. The city of Nanaimo will hold its next council meeting on April the 6th and will be opened to the public and live-streamed. The Regional District of Nanaimo will hold its next meeting on April the 28th and it will be live-streamed.

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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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