Two Cowichan Tribes members who died from COVID-19 were young adults

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Shelter in place order extended by Cowichan Tribes

The Cowichan Tribes has extended its shelter in place order until March the 5th in the wake of two deaths from COVID-19 last weekend. Chief William Seymour delivered the news on social media that the two people who died were young adults. They were in their 30s with pre-existing health conditions. Seymour says their deaths underline the danger the virus presents.

"It's not only a high risk disease for our elders. We all need to be careful and to take it seriously. I am asking you, please, get tested at the first sign of symptoms. If you catch this virus early you will have a much better chance of recovering from it."
—Cowichan Tribes Chief William Seymour.

There are currently 14 active cases of COVID-19 among the Tribes. CTV News is reporting there will be a delivery of 600 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Cowichan Tribes next week, which will allow elders to receive their second doses. Meanwhile, the Snuneymuxw nation, near Nanaimo has wrapped up two days of second dose vaccinations for 300 of its members. Chief Mike Wyse says there is one active case of the virus on reserve and two others off-reserve.

Thursday COVID-19 update

Meanwhile, BC has hit its highest daily new case count since early January, with 617 new cases and four deaths. There are 19 new cases of COVID-19 in the Island Health region, bringing the total active cases to 169 on Vancouver Island.

City of Nanaimo to vote on the creation of SPO on Monday

Nanaimo city council will be asked on Monday, to give its blessing for the next steps toward the goal of providing a range of housing and other supports for vulnerable people. The city's Health and Housing Task Force has completed its work with a Health and Housing Action Plan. Step one is to create an entity to implement it. That entity, a Systems Planning Organization, or SPO, would be responsible for a number of duties. Task Force co-chair and city councillor Don Bonner says the SPO's main job would be to coordinate the needs of existing social service organizations with the funding agencies.

"If we all sit down and coordinate the work that they're doing, and we create a coordinated ask to the province and the feds, we will be successful in getting the money that we need in making a serious dent in this issue...and we'll have a lot less homeless people on the street and when people are approaching homelessness, there will be a lot more services to help them out.”
—City of Nanaimo Counsillor Don Bonner.

The SPO is also expected to attract members to what's being called a "funders' table," made up of groups like BC Housing, Island Health, local government and the Snuneymuxw First Nation. And the SPO must come up with self-sustaining funding. In its first year, it will be mostly funded through a $300,000 dollar contribution from the city. The recommendations to accept the Task Force Report and to create a working group to design the SPO goes to council on Monday.