Evening News Update for April 17, 2020

📷 Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix present on COVID-19 data released the morning of April 17th / Photo via Province of British Columbia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

NANAIMO —There are 43 new cases of COVID-19 in BC confirmed in the past 24 hours, but none in the Island Health region. The spike in provincial cases has reversed the recent trend of a slowing infection rate. Meanwhile, the outbreak at the Mission Medium Security prison continues unabated, with 63 cases so far, including six in hospital. There were no new deaths reported today, but yesterday, an inmate from Mission died, so did another person in the Island Health region. Island Health says the death here was a person in their 80s who was in hospital. The death count in our region is 3, province-wide, it's 78.

Despite today's spike in cases, new data from the Ministry of Health confirm BC has flattened the curve and suggests a downward trend in new cases has begun. However, the Provincial Health Officer warns there will be more deaths in the coming weeks. Dr. Bonnie Henry says if new infections and hospitalizations continue to decline, there could be some restrictions lifted by mid- May. Henry says that could mean some cancelled surgeries will be rescheduled and some classrooms reopened. She hopes some non-essential travel restrictions will be relaxed during the summer months, so that people can spend time at their cabins but physical distancing measures like the ones in grocery stores will continue, so will working from home, although some businesses may be re-opened. Henry predicts international travel and face to face business meetings including conventions will not happen for at least another year.

People who live in the Island Health region will have a chance to ask questions of the region's health officer and local politicians next week. The Health Authority is hosting a virtual town hall meeting on Tuesday, starting at 7:15 pm. The panellists include Health Authority CEO Kathy Mitchell, the region's Medical Health Officer, Dr. Richard Stanwick, the MLA for the Cowichan Valley, Sonia Furstenau and the MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin, Mitzi Dean. You can join the live stream on the BC Government's Facebook page or its YouTube channel.

Speaking of live-streams, there is one tonight, that will showcase Vancouver Island musicians. It's called "Rock For Relief" a fundraiser for the Nanaimo and Victoria Foundations. Viewers can choose which Foundation to support. The musicians who will perform from their living rooms include David Foster, Randy and Tal Bachman, Jesse Roper, Kathryn Calder and The Tenors along with Nanaimo's own Aaron Pritchert and Lauren Spencer Smith who recently won a spot on American Idol. The show begins at 8 o'clock tonight on CHEK television or you can live-stream it on CHEK's Facebook page or its YouTube channel.

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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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