Morning Update for April 1st, 2020.

NANAIMO —The Premier gave a pep talk about the COVID-19 pandemic last night. Premier John Horgan's address to the province included praise for healthcare workers, truck drivers, grocery and gas station clerks, pharmacists and daycare workers, saying "BC has got your back." John Horgan urged British Columbians to obey health orders, saying "We may be separated but you're not alone." He also acknowledged the incredible stress many people are under who are unable to pay their rent today. Horgan reminded them they can apply for a $500 rent subsidy, and an additional $1000 in provincial emergency money. He says British Columbians can look forward to more announcements in the future to support them and keep them safe.

BC's Minister of Health, Adrian Dix says "there is zero chance that any health orders will be varied by the end of April." The provincial health officer offered some hope, saying it is possible that some orders related to the pandemic might be eased by the summer. Dr. Bonnie Henry says we are in the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, but there could be a brief reprieve in May or June, when the weather gets warmer. Henry says British Columbians can expect a second outbreak in the fall, when restrictions would be reinstated. She says living under restrictions will likely continue until there is a vaccine for the virus.

Meanwhile, new numbers released yesterday show 43 new COVID-19 cases in BC, which have pushed the total to 1013 confirmed infections in the province. Five more people have died, all of them over the age of 70 and who were residents at care homes. There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Island Health region, so our total stands at 67.

BC's first large community outbreak has happened at a farm in West Kelowna. CBC is reporting 14 temporary foreign workers at Bylands Nursery tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend. It says 63 other migrant workers along with twelve local workers are now in isolation. All remain under a health order at their on-site housing at the farm. The Provincial Health Officer says the migrant workers cannot return to their home countries because of travel restrictions. Dr. Bonnie Henry says she is very concerned about the potential for similar outbreaks where seasonal farmhands work because many of the sites do not have facilities large enough to handle quarantines or isolations.

On a happier note, CHLY is celebrating its birthday today. 20 years ago, the Radio Malaspina Society started internet live-streaming. We hope to celebrate this milestone with you in person in the future.

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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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