Morning Update for March 31st, 2020.

NANAIMO —Health care workers, patients, staff and visitors are getting a break on parking starting April the 1st. BC’s Minister of Health says parking will be free at all hospitals and health authority-owned and operated sites. Dix says no deductions will be taken off those who have signed up for monthly payment plans.

The Minister is trying to calm fears of a shortage of personal protective equipment for health care workers. Dix acknowledges there are challenges world-wide in getting equipment, but BC is not facing shortages. He says BC suppliers have not been able to deliver as much as what the province has been ordering. However, he says shipments are arriving regularly, pointing out that one million surgical masks were delivered to the province yesterday. The Provincial Health Officer says a lot of innovative people in the private sector are working with the Health Ministry to develop items like visors, made from 3-D printers. The Vancouver Island Free Daily is reporting a group called "Project Draw Breath" is using a 3-D printer, to create valves that would allow up to four patients to use one ventilator. The report says the team is developing clinical tests with Island Health at the Cowichan District Hospital.

New COVID-19 cases reported March 30th show 86 more British Columbians were infected since Saturday, with seven new cases on Vancouver Island. The total number of cases in the Island Health district is 67. The total for the province is 970. the Provincial Health Officer says there have been two COVID-19 deaths on the lower mainland since Saturday. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the good news is 469 people who were infected have now recovered including 70 people who were in intensive and critical care units.

The province has named 19 hospitals in BC that have been designated Primary COVID-19 care sites. On Vancouver Island, they are the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria and the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. The Vic General Hospital has been named a secondary site. Health Authorities are also designating what are being called "off-site treatment centres" for less acute in-patient care. The Vancouver Convention Centre and the new tower at the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby will provide 350 additional beds if needed. Island Health has not announced where its off-site locations will be.

Featured

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.

Have a tip? Email: news@chly.ca Find us on social media at Twitter: @lisacordasco / @chly1017FM

Funded by Sustaining Donors and the Community Radio Fund of Canada and Heritage Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative. Sustain CHLY’s News Department for many years to come by signing up for a monthly Sustaining Donation.