All ferries to mainland cancelled due to gale force winds

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Ferries cancelled due to storm

BC Ferries has cancelled all of its sailings between Vancouver Island and the lower mainland tonight. The forecast for high winds of up to 90 kilometres an hour off the east coast of Vancouver Island prompted the ferry corporation to cancel all of its afternoon sailings before the stormy weather started. Late this afternoon, BC Ferries decided to cancel the evening runs as well, because the gale force winds continue.

Tuesday covid-19 update

Today's COVID-19 numbers are showing no large spikes as a result of the holiday season, but case counts remain high, with 428 new cases confirmed over the past 24 hours, including nine in the island health region. There have been 8 more deaths from the virus, but none was on Vancouver Island. Currently, there are 122 active cases of COVID-19 in our health region.

First Nations a priority for vaccination

Meanwhile, vaccines have started rolling out at six first nations communities on Vancouver Island. The provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, says the remote communities are a priority because they do not have critical health care facilities and are ill equipped to manage outbreaks.

"We have an important commitment to remote and isolated first nations communities. We've seen the devastation that can happen if this virus gets into those communities. As well, we know the access to care is much more challenging, particularly as we’re heading into winter months."—Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Just over 5000 doses of the Moderna vaccine is being made available to selected BC first nations communities this week, including four that have battled COVID-19 outbreaks on Vancouver Island. Vaccines are being offered to everyone over the age of 18, with the exception of pregnant women and nursing mothers. The vice chair of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council says the vaccine's arrival has brought a sense of excitement and hope to the communities but Mariah Charleson says with hope, comes some vaccine reluctance as well.

"The worry is that many of our people, there's a long standing history of oppression from the health care system as well as the government of Canada and so there's lots of reluctance there, so we're really trying to work on the positive messaging and sharing as much information about the vaccine as we can so people feel well informed about taking the vaccine.”—Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Vice-President, Mariah Charleson (łučinƛcuta).

Charleson says it helps that the vaccine is being administered by first nations nurses who are culturally sensitive. She says community leaders including Chief Robert Dennis of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation have been among the first in line to demonstrate the vaccine is safe and effective. The province has said it plans to immunize close to 9000 indigenous people in remote BC communities by the end of January and close to 15,000 more by the end of March.