Morning News Update for April 15, 2020

NANAIMO —COVID-19 continues to kill seniors in British Columbia, with three more deaths being reported at long term care homes on the lower mainland. BC's fatality rate now stands at 72. At the beginning of the month, the Vancouver Island health region reported two of its first and only deaths during this pandemic. Ten people remain in our region's hospitals. Across the province, 27 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the past 24 hours, with two in the island health region. Island Health has a total of 89 cases, provincially, there are 1517.

The outbreak at the Mission Medium Security prison has prompted the province to shore up resources at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital. The Provincial Health Officer says 41 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed at the federal prison and seven people are in hospital. Dr.Bonnie Henry says Abbotsford Regional has set up a separate secure unit in the hospital for them. And, plans are being made to deploy a mobile medical unit to Abbotsford to help it deal with an expected increase in cases from the prison.

BC Ferries has done an about-face and is reinstating about a third of the 1400 workers it laid off one week ago. In a memo to employees, the president of BC Ferries says layoff notices to full-time employees have been rescinded. Mark Collins says the decision was made in the hope that the ferry corporation qualifies for the 75 per cent wage subsidy being offered by the federal government. Collins says BC Ferries will top up full-time employee wages to 100 per cent if they are called into work. However, none of its 900 casual workers will be reinstated at this time. 

The Mayor of Alert Bay has posted a video, confirming he has contracted COVID-19. In the video, Dennis Buchanan is seen standing on his front porch, imploring people to stay at home. Buchanan says he caught the virus a week ago, despite practising physical distancing, regular handwashing and never leaving Cormorant Island. 

As promised, the province will showcase some BC musicians with a live stream concert on Thursday at 5 pm. The line up includes Kym Gouchie, from Prince George, Alex Cuba from Smithers, Desiree Dawson from White Rock and Dan Mangan from Vancouver. You can watch it on the BC Provincial Government Facebook page or on the Showcase BC website.

 
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Lisa Cordasco

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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Lisa Cordasco