Noon Update for April 1st, 2020.

Photo: Nanaimo St Andrew's Church (Sydney Langhelt - CC BY-SA 3.0) — *Photo: Nanaimo St Andrew's Church (Sydney Langhelt - CC BY-SA 3.0*)

NANAIMO —Bells are ringing out at Anglican churches across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands right now. The bell-ringing is in support of COVID-19 front-line workers, Dr. Bonnie Henry, the province's health officer and Adrian Dix, the Minister of Health. The 40 participating churches plan to make it a weekly gesture, every Wednesday at noon.

Those bells will likely continue ringing into the summer. BC's Provincial Health officer says restrictions affecting gatherings, social distancing and self-isolation is the new normal, although some health directives might be eased by the end of May or June, if the weather is warm enough. That's because the virus does not survive in higher temperatures. Dr. Bonnie Henry hopes for a reprieve from the virus over the summer months, but she says a second wave of infection will likely hit in the fall. She says the restrictions will not be permanently lifted until there is a vaccine for COVID-19. Henry will update the coronavirus numbers later this afternoon.

The BC Nurses Union is sounding the alarm over personal protective equipment. The president of the union says she's hearing from members who are being discouraged from changing their masks with each new patient interaction. Christine Sorenson says most hospitals have gone through their regular supply, and the pandemic supply is being rationed. She says that has nurses frustrated and concerned.

Meanwhile, the province hopes to ease the supply pressure with the creation of an on-line platform that will coordinate, source and deploy medical supplies and personal protective equipment to provincial health authorities. The COVID-19 Supply Hub will gather donations from businesses and other organizations that have offered to help. The Supply Hub will be part of a larger Provincial Supply Coordination Unit that was announced last week. The Unit will also receive and distribute medical supplies purchased by the federal government and the Ministry of Health.

The Prime Minister has clarified some rules in applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Its for people who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children. It also applies to wage earners, as well as contract workers and the self-employed, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance. Starting next Monday, Canadians can apply on-line on the federal government website. This taxable benefit will provide $2,000 a month for up to four months. Those who have already applied for EI do not need to register.

CHLY is celebrating its birthday today. Twenty years ago, the Malaspina Radio Society started live-streaming on the internet. We are grateful for your support... and that's no joke!

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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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