Evening Update for April 9, 2020

Dr. Bonnie Henry. 📷: Province of British Columbia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

NANAIMO —There have been two more deaths from COVID-19 in BC, bringing the total to 50. Both deaths were seniors in hospitals on the lower mainland. There are now 1370 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in BC with 34 new cases reported in the past 24 hours. There has been one new case in the Vancouver Island health region, bringing our total to 82.

However, the Provincial Health Officer's update did not mention 14 cases of the virus at the Mission Correctional Center. That's because Dr. Bonnie Henry does not have jurisdiction over federal institutions. The medium-security federal prison is in lockdown as a result of the outbreak. The Corrections Canada website is reporting one COVID case at its Pacific Regional Treatment Centre in Abbotsford, but no further tests are pending there. Prison advocates say federal institutions could have contained the outbreak with more rigorous testing and earlier isolation. Unconfirmed reports say inmates at Matsqui prison are also showing symptoms, but they are not being tested and their temperatures are not being monitored.

The City of Nanaimo is taking steps to ease the burden on taxpayers during the pandemic. Utility payments issued after March the 17th have been deferred from 30 days to 90 days. There is a five per cent discount if the bill is paid within 90 days. The city says it's considering a deferral on property taxes, which would be due in July, and it may reduce any penalties for late payments.

BC residents can start signing up for some assistance programs that were announced last month. However, you will need confirmation you are eligible for federal COVID-19 assistance first. Once confirmed, you can apply for three month's worth of free BC Hydro on its website. You can also apply for a $500 dollar a month reduction in rent on the BC Housing website. However, the BC Emergency Benefit of $1000 is not open for applications yet, but you can sign up to be notified when it does. Go to BC COVID 19 supports and follow the links.

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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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