Our Daily News Update produced by our News Department. Serving the mid-Vancouver Island Coast and Salish Sea community.
Lisa Cordasco—News Director and Reporter.
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Indigenous and remote and rural communities in BC will get extra resources to help them deliver timely care to those affected by COVID-19; The Village of Alert Bay has declared a state of emergency, in reaction to a COVID-19 outbreak; Charges are being recommended against a Nanaimo RCMP officer, involved in an incident a year and a half ago; Nanaimo council is meeting at this hour, to re-examine this year's 5.2 per cent property tax increase.
Read MoreThe Minister of Public Safety has announced new penalties to try to curb price gouging of medical and other supplies needed for the COVID-19 pandemic; Vancouver Island Music Festival cancelled due COVID-19.
Read MoreThere are 43 new cases of COVID-19 in BC confirmed in the past 24 hours, but none in the Island Health region; 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; Vancouver Island Health Authority to host town hall; Tonight at 8 PM "Rock For Relief" a fundraiser for the Nanaimo and Victoria Foundations on CHEK.
Read MoreCOVID-19 has claimed the life of another person in the Island Health Region, bringing the total number of deaths here to 3; New data from the Ministry of Health confirm BC has flattened the curve; Vancouver Island Health Authority to host town hall; Tonight at 8 PM "Rock For Relief" a fundraiser for the Nanaimo and Victoria Foundations on CHEK.
Read MorePost-secondary students who are feeling anxiety over COVID-19 can call a new mental health hotline; An inmate from the Mission Medium Security Institution has died from COVID-19; more.
Read MoreThe Mayor of Nanaimo says a new provincial aid plan for municipalities will pit communities against one another; An inmate from the Mission Medium Security Institution has died from COVID-19. The unnamed inmate was transferred with six others, to a secure ward at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital yesterday.
Read MoreThe federal and provincial governments have announced more programs to help businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic; The Mayor of Victoria is calling on the province to order hotel owners to allow vulnerable people to be housed in hotel rooms.
Read MoreNew numbers on COVID-19 show 44 new cases in BC over the past 24 hours, including three in the Island Health region, bringing the total here to 92, and province-wide to 1561.
Read MoreTravellers returning to British Columbia will face more intensive screening. The Premier says people arriving at airports and border crossings will have to show they have a plan to self-isolate, instead of just promising to do so.
Premier John Horgan. 📷: Province of British Columbia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Read MoreThe Prime Minister has announced changes to an emergency program, aimed at keeping employees on the payroll. The changes relax the eligibility requirements for the Canada Wage Subsidy Benefit.
Prime Minister Trudeau. 📷: PMO photographer (used with permission).
Read MoreThere is good news for Vancouver Island residents with the latest COVID-19 numbers. There have been no new cases of the virus here since Monday. There have been no new deaths in the Island Health region for close to a week.
Dr. Bonnie Henry. 📷: Province of British Columbia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Read MoreThe Prime Minister is trying to allay fears over shortages of medical equipment. Justin Trudeau says four Canadian companies are poised to begin production of 30,000 ventilators.
Read MoreBC's Minister of Health is warning travellers returning to Canada to self-isolate, or face arrests and fines. Adrian Dix says BC is concerned about the potential for a spike in new COVID-19 cases, with the return of Canadians from hot spots like India, the United States and cruise ships.
Adrian Dix. 📷: Province of British Columbia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Read MoreBC's provincial health officer says there has been another death from COVID-19, but this time, it was a 40-year-old who died in his home. It's the second death outside of a long term care facility in BC but officials did not name the community where it happened.
N95 Mask. 📷: Wikipedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Read MoreToday is the day people can start applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. The benefit provides up to $2000 a month for those who have lost their jobs, are self-employed or cannot work because of COVID-19.
Read MoreThere are two more new cases of COVID-19 in the Island Health Region, bringing the total to 74. Across BC, there are 53 new cases, pushing the provincial total to 1174.
Read MoreBC 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.
Read MoreThe Island Health Authority is reporting the first deaths from COVID-19 in the region. The provincial health officer says two people in the Island Health region died over the past 24 hours.
Read MoreHelp is on the way for post-secondary students who need financial assistance due to COVID-19. The Ministry of Advanced Education is adding $3 and a half million dollars to its Emergency Financial Assistance program.
Read MoreThe latest COVID-19 numbers are in: There are 53 new confirmed cases over the past 24 hours, bringing BC's total to 1066.
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