Noon Update for April 3, 2020.

NANAIMO —BC Ferries has announced a major reduction in service because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting this Saturday, the Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay route will be suspended, along with the Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay route. The Duke Point to Tsawassen route will be cut in half to four round trips per day, but four extra cargo ship sailings will be added. Northern and mid-coast routes will continue on the winter, off-peak schedule. The ferry corporation says details on reductions to service to the southern Gulf Islands will be announced soon.

The Provincial Health Officer's orders for safe distancing have led to the closure of 17 emergency shelter beds in Nanaimo. The Unitarian Shelter, Samaritan House, Martha's Place and the Salvation Army Shelter have reduced the number of beds offered, to comply with the two-meter separation directive. The 17-bed reduction is in addition to 40 beds closed last Tuesday at the temporary cold-weather shelter at St. Peter's church hall. The city of Nanaimo is working with the Nanaimo Homelessness Coalition, BC Housing and Island Health to come up with a coordinated emergency response for those experiencing homelessness. It has given the province a list of facilities that could be used to isolate homeless people who show symptoms of the virus. 

The city enacted several other measures to help homeless people stay safe. It is keeping washrooms in designated parks open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is expanding access to potable water, including the continuation of the shower program. It will provide 24-hour access to temporary washrooms and hand sanitizing stations being set up downtown. It is working with other social service agencies on a food security plan for vulnerable populations.

The RCMP in Nanaimo says the stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increasing number of children calling 911 for help. RCMP say there have been 29 calls for domestic violence and disturbances over the past two weeks. That's a third higher than usual. The RCMP's media relations officer in Nanaimo says officers are reporting fights that have started over COVID-19 and with many people laid off and schools closed, there's a real concern about the situation in those homes escalating and the numbers increasing in the coming weeks. Constable Gary O'Brien says "sadly we're seeing children being subjected to these arguments and that's extremely concerning to us."

 
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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 CordascoCovid-19