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Saanich Police have impounded the vehicle of an individual caught driving impaired after a motor vehicle crash.
Officers responded to a potentially serious motor vehicle crash at 4 p.m. on Wednesday April 22nd.
The incident occurred after one vehicle turned left in front of another vehicle at the intersection of Quadra Street and Union Road.
Fortunately there were no injuries as a result of the collision. However attending officers noticed signs of impairment in the driver who turned left and caused the crash.
The driver failed a breathalyzer test, leading police to believe they were impaired by alcohol.
They received an immediate 90-day driving prohibition and their vehicle was impounded
for 30 days. Police also issued a violation ticket to the driver for failing to yield while making a left turn.
The other vehicle had to be towed due to the extensive damage caused by the crash.
“Collisions at intersections have the potential for very serious injuries, which fortunately was not the case here,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades in a statement.
“This driver is now facing significant consequences and will not be driving on our roads for some time now.”
After years of searching for the perfect place, the Victoria Humane Society has now found a permanent fixture to house their animals in need.
In a Facebook post last week, the society announced that they had secured the spot which will allow them to “bring in more animals in need of help, assess their needs before placing in foster care and have a place where volunteers and adopters can meet.”
The organization, which operates entirely through donations, gathered online or through fundraising initiatives, provides shelter and rehabilitation for animals who have been rescued from hoarding situations, or those who come from remote communities with no access to medical care.
Currently, the animals are housed in foster homes while they wait to be adopted and go to their forever homes.
They are currently looking for donations of goods and services to help get their new digs up and running, including the following:
Services needed:
drywall repair
painters
floor layer
locksmith
surveillance camera person to set up security system
computer person to set up office
Goods needed:
paint and primer
counter tops
laminate or vinyl floor and probably subfloor (800 feet?)
2 smart TV’s
computer system
commercial size washer and gas dryer
stackable washer and dryer electric
used comfy leather couches
washable used quilts
10′ x 10′ dog kennels (Costco has good ones)
x-pens
Anyone available to help out with the above is asked to send the Humane Society a message on Facebook, or contact them via their website – and of course, cash donations are always welcome.
The second company to receive approval to provide ride-hailing services on Vancouver Island will soon be the first to start operating in Victoria.
On Wednesday, Lucky To Go became the second company to receive Passenger Transportation Board approval to operate as a ride-hailing service.
According to owner Mandeep Rana, the company plans to start providing the service within the next 14 days once insurance and other logistical requirements are in place.
In addition to the independent driver model followed by companies like Uber and Lyft, Lucky To Go has teamed up with the BC Taxi Association to offer taxi hailing services as well.
Customers who download the app will therefore be able to choose between ordering a ride from an independent driver licensed with the company, and any one of the taxi companies operating in Victoria.
“We have roughly 40 to 45 drivers signed up but we’re also working with the BC Taxi Association because they have endorsed us,” said Rana in a phone interview with Victoria Buzz.
“They believe in our product and they knew that this was something that is inevitable.”
Passengers also have the option of choosing the ‘Nearest Ride’ feature which will send an alert to all drivers in the area irrespective of whether they’re part of a taxi company or independent driver. Whoever accepts this call can then pick up the customer.
According to Rana, the company has designed a competitive fare structure that makes all rides hailed through the Lucky To Go app approximately 25 per cent less expensive than regular taxi service ordered over the phone.
Like Uber and Lyft, payments are made through the app by credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit, and is therefore entirely contactless. Customers can also leave rate their drivers and ride through the app.
Moreover all independent drivers and taxi drivers working through Lucky To Go will be disinfecting their vehicles before and after each ride. All drivers and passengers will also be provided with a non-medical mask to wear for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People can start downloading the app now, which currently functions as a food and grocery delivery platform.
Once the platform has gone live in Victoria, Rana says the plan is to expand the company into Vancouver and the Okanagan region within next 60 days.
The first ride hailing company to be approved for operation on Vancouver Island was Kabu Ride Inc., a company based in Vancouver.
Kabu received the green light to operate in the CRD and on Vancouver Island on February 7th, 2020 but has not yet begun providing services here.
After first announcing the aid in March, the B.C. provincial government says they will will open applications for a one-time tax-free payment of $1,000 for workers on May 1st.
Most people eligible for the $2,000/month Canada Emergency Response Benefit will also be eligible for this B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers, including those who have run out of employment insurance (EI) benefits and subsequently qualify for the CERB.
Approval for the CERB, even if they have not received a benefit yet,
Age 15 or above,
Filed, or agreed to file, a 2019 B.C. income tax return,
Not be receiving provincial income assistance or disability assistance.
“This benefit is further help for British Columbians who are worried about paying their bills and making ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance.
“During these uncertain times, we want to get through this together by helping displaced workers support themselves and their families.”
Those who meet the criteria can begin applying online at www.gov.bc.ca/workerbenefit on May 1st, and on the phone at 778 309-4630 or toll-free within B.C. at 1 855 955-3545 on May 4th.
The phone lines for this benefit will be open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and can also be dialled for general support and inquiries starting May 1st.
This benefit is part of the $5 billion COVID-19 Action Plan to support individuals and businesses that was announced on March 23rd.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,682,745.
Over 187,900 people have died from the illness and 736,405 have made a full recovery.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled an additional $1.1 billion medical and research strategy, saying increased testing and further understanding of COVID-19 is necessary as Canadians continue to fight the pandemic.
In his daily address Thursday morning, Trudeau stated that 20,000 Canadians are currently being tested for the virus daily – but also says this is “not enough”, and more testing needs to be done.
Nearly one third of the National Medical and Research Strategy will go towards expanding national testing and modelling, in an effort to better understand the virus’ transmission and thereby prevent the spread of COVID-19 while a vaccine is being developed.
The Prime Minister said that a vaccine is indeed the long-term solution, but until that is developed, the country looks to slow transmission and start reopening the economy — hence the $350 million going towards more testing and modelling.
There will also be an additional $115 million towards more research on vaccines and treatments, and the largest portion of the funding, $662 million, will be dedicated to clinical trials to test the vaccines and treatments as they are created.
Trudeau has also announced a new COVID-19 immunity task force, which will be comprised of some of Canada’s top doctors, including Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, and Dr. David Naylor, who has advised Liberal and Conservative governments on health and science issues.
The task force will focus on blood testing to track and understand COVID-19, as well as those who may have gained immunity to the virus.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,672,337.
Over 186,900 people have died from the illness and 731,825 have made a full recovery.
If you’re missing Pig’s famed pulled pork sandwiches, you’re in luck – the popular BBQ joint has announced today they’ve opened a ‘side hustle’, where you can buy take and make kits and assemble your very own sandwich at home – baked beans and coleslaw included.
Though Pig won’t be opening a new location, the pulled pork sandwiches are coming of retirement and kits will be available at Red Arrow Brewing in Duncan on Monday, April 27th through pre-order.
They will also be available at Victoria’s Hoyne Brewing in the near future, with the pick-up date to be announced soon.
Pig was a staple of Victoria’s downtown restaurant scene for many years, and was housed in the Atrium from 2010 until 2017, when it closed its doors.
You can check out Pig’s website for ordering and pick up info, but the steps for ordering are simple:
Step 1 (choose a size):
Option 1
Pulled pork + Pig Sauce
4 Brioche Buns
Slaw
Beans
Reheat Instructions
$35 (tax included, feeds 4)
Option 2
Pulled pork + Pig Sauce
2 Brioche Buns
Slaw
Beans
Reheat Instructions
$20 (tax included, feeds 2)
Step 2 (text your order):
Text (250) 893-7675 with the following information:
Name
Size option (1 or 2)
Pick up spot
Date
Step 3 (order confirmation):
About 48 hours before pick up you will receive a text message confirming the order and requesting payment. Please wait until you receive confirmation before paying!
Step 4 (pay):
Upon confirmation you can then send your payment through e-transfer to getpigbbq@gmail.com.
Step 5 (pickup):
Pickup your order (social distancing procedures will be in place).
Step 6 (enjoy):
Take home your sandwich kits and reheat and compile as per the included instructions.
Students at the University of Victoria have expressed anger and frustration after the Parking and Transportation department refused to issue partial refunds for annual parking passes.
An annual parking pass, accessed by thousands of students attending the post secondary institution, buys students one parking spot that can be used from September 1st, 2019 to ends on August 31st 2020.
It costs exactly $568.05 which the university says is a 73 per cent discounted rate amounting to $2.37 per day of parking. General parking on campus without a pass costs $9 per day.
However due to COVID-19 UVic, like all other schools and post secondary institutions in B.C., shut down most on-campus services in mid-March and switched to online courses. As a result, parking on campus is now free, rendering the purchased annual passes invalid and worthless.
When asked for a refund for the value of the pass for the remaining five and a half months of the year — which amounts to approximately $250 — the university’s Parking Services department tells students that because of the discount received at the time of the purchase, no refund will be provided.
“I had a mechanical engineering co-op lined up for the summer to earn enough funding to pay for my final two semesters at UVic,” said 5th year Mechanical Engineering student Aaron Elsser in an emailed statement to Victoria Buzz.
“Unfortunately the internship was cancelled due to the virus and now UVic refusing to refund my parking pass is just rubbing salt into the wounds.”
Elsser has been studying at UVic since 2016 and used savings, parental support and internships to pay for his first three years. Now, he relies on summer jobs, student loans, scholarships, and bursaries to get by.
Refunds have been issued by other institutions
Another UVic student, who has requested to remain anonymous, points out that the discount originally offered by the university no longer holds true if students are not given a refund for the amount of time they cannot use the parking pass for.
“We were only able to use it effectively for 6.5 out of the 12 months that it was purchased for, this would mean that permit holders paid $87 a month rather than the $47 a month originally agreed upon,” they said in an email to Victoria Buzz.
They also shared positive stories of how other universities like Vancouver Island University and the University of British Columbia have treated the issue of parking pass refunds.
VIU has taken specific steps to modify their parking pass refund policy in light of financial strains put on students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students at that institution can request to cancel their parking permits by April 30th. Once cancelled, refunds will be pro-rated based on the number of days remaining on individual permits, retroactive to March 13th.
At both the Vancouver and Okanagan UBC campuses, the parking department is contacting individual permit holders who have prepaid for parking permits to voluntarily issue them a refund or credit.
In stark contrast, UVic parking services is not reaching out to permit holders to let them know about the current policy and that there will be no refunds — students are expected to find out themselves.
“It has already been quite stressful dealing with the transition to online courses in the middle of the semester and UVic has constantly been saying we are all in this together and that they are coming up with ways to financially assist students during this time,” says the student who requested anonymity.
“Reimbursing students (and other permit holders) for a parking service that has been cancelled is an obvious way to assist students financially.”
UVic’s response
When asked about students’ concerns and financial stress being compounded by the lack of this (approximately) $250 refund, a UVic spokesperson reiterated that the annual parking pass being offered at a discounted rate means no portion of the fee will be refunded.
“University staff have followed up personally with any individual who has inquired about the status of parking permits at UVic. We appreciate that people have been patient and understanding as the university works through the many decisions it has to make,” the administration said in an emailed statement to Victoria Buzz.
They also stated that each post-secondary institution has differences in their parking permit structures and policies and makes their own decisions, when told about initiatives taken by VIU and UBC.
The university administration did not directly comment on whether or not the original discount has been honoured, given the circumstances of the parking passes being effectively nullified due to early campus closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an announcement earlier today, Prime Minister Trudeau announced a new $1,250/month grant for post-secondary students in Canada after many expressed concerns about lack of summer jobs that they would otherwise rely on.
Students are by and large not eligible for the $2,000/month CERB or Employment Insurance.
Financial stress has therefore weighed heavy among many students during this pandemic, which is also a factor in the frustration directed at UVic’s parking policies.
“UVic, especially when dealing with parking, has been notoriously greedy at the expense of students in my experience. I am not surprised by the lack of refunds but rather just disappointed and enraged,” added Aaron Elsser.
UPDATE: Both of the deceased individuals were male, according to an update from BC Coroners Service.
One of the men was in his 60s while the other was in his mid-20s.
Earlier:
BC Coroners Service has confirmed to Victoria Buzz that two people have died at the homeless encampment at Topaz Park.
The deaths were reported on Wednesday afternoon and Victoria Police officers determined that they are not suspicious in nature.
Coroners Service is in the early stages of their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and no further information will be made available at this time.
On April 17th, a 37-year-old man was found dead in the homeless encampment along Pandora Ave.
BC Coroners Service are also investigating that incident to determine the cause of death.
Last week, a group of 24 Mayors representing communities on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands sent a letter to the provincial health officer, Premier, and other provincial authorities in B.C.
This letter addressed concerns sparked by travellers heading to Vancouver Island for leisure over the Easter long weekend in, citing anecdotal evidence to suggest that vacationers were disobeying orders to avoid non-essential travel and were responsible for depleting resources at small town stores.
Looking to the future, the municipal leaders requested harsher restrictions for people using BC Ferries to travel to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands and asked the Dr. Bonnie Henry to issue a public health order that would restrict May long weekend usage (defined as Thursday the 14th through Tuesday the 19th) to essential travel only.
While the province has not officially responded to the mayors who sent that letter, Premier John Horgan did answer our question regarding his thoughts on the subject, confirming that travel restrictions to island communities is not a priority at the moment.
“I am aware of island mayors having significant concerns,” said Horgan, reminding us that he himself is a Vancouver Island resident.
“We’ll be looking at it very closely, but the May long weekend is a thousand years away based on my daily schedule.”
He reiterated that travel over Easter long weekend saw a 92 per cent decline compared to the same time period in 2019, and stated that as May long weekend looms closer, communities across B.C. will see a host of new “positive initiatives” that could mean ferry travel restrictions will no longer be required.
The Premier added that while he did not wish to be dismissive of the issue, the upcoming long weekend is weeks from now and that he is “living this [crisis] day by day”.
Horgan also responded to concerns that the outbreak in Alert Bay, a remote village on Cormorant Island located northeast of Vancouver Island, was caused by travellers.
“Those very travellers may well have been local residents who left Alert Bay to go shopping in [various Vancouver Island cities] and returned and brought the virus with them,” he said.
“It’s not just people from away who can contract the virus, it’s also people within those communities.”
For that reason, he says the province is reluctant to impose any travel restrictions beyond those already put in place.
As a result of their outbreak, the village of Alert Bay has declared a local state of emergency and imposed a curfew that requires residents to be indoors from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.
This state of emergency exists in the Village of Alert Bay and the Regional District of Mount Waddington until midnight on Friday, April 24th, 2020 unless otherwise stated.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,635,131.
Over 184,000 people have died from the illness and 717,357 have made a full recovery.
BC Housing has confirmed that the SEAPARC leisure complex, a recreation centre in Sooke will be temporarily converted into shelter spaces for vulnerable populations to be able to safely self isolate on Vancouver Island during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an email to Victoria Buzz, BC Housing spokesperson Laura Mathews says the facility has the capacity to house 45 people — 30 indoors and 15 tents outside.
BC Housing partnered with the CRD to open up the facility for use as an emergency shelter, and a referral process to identify individuals who will accommodate the shelter spaces is being developed by Island Health.
The facility will be run by the Sooke Region Communities Health Network with resources and services provided by the Sooke Shelter Society, AVI Health and Community Services Society and public health nurses.
“They are experienced in working with vulnerable populations and will be able to ensure physical distancing,” reads the statement from Mathews. “They will provide access to healthy meals and hygiene facilities, including showers and regular hand washing.”
Sooke Region Communities Health Network is currently in the process of hiring staff and determining the number of staff members required to manage the site.
“While it is not the first emergency response centre in B.C., SeaParc Arena is the first community centre on the Island to be used as an emergency response centre,” says Mathews.
“We are considering other community sites in Victoria and on the Island and have secured spaces in hotels where people who are vulnerable are able to self-isolate.”
Thus far, 260 indoor spaces across four sites have been secured in Victoria for unsheltered people to be able to self-isolate. There is also a designated encampment at Topaz Park occupied by the city’s homeless population.
The SEAPARC facility is expected to open for use as a homeless shelter within one or two weeks once staff have been secured and will remain in operation until June 30th, 2020.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,633,064.
Over 183,800 people have died from the illness and 717,220 have made a full recovery.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 71 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,795 people.
These numbers, as stated by Premier Horgan earlier today, partly reflect new cases linked to an outbreak at a poultry processing plant in Vancouver.
B.C. also switched its testing strategy from only testing long term care centre residents, health care workers, and cluster outbreaks, to allow for broader testing almost exactly two weeks ago.
In total, 745 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 747 in Fraser Health, 110 on Vancouver Island, 153 in Interior Health and 40 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 103 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 46 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decline in hospitalizations.
Sadly, three new deaths were reported today and the death toll is now at 90 in total across the province.
In good news, a total of 1,079 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C. Most recent data from the BC CDC, dated April 20th shows that 71 people in Island Health Region have been declared recovered from COVID-19.
There are now outbreaks at 20 long term care centres on the mainland and one unit in an acute care facility, the hardest hit of which is the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver.
This reflects three new outbreaks at long term care facilities on the mainland, and four previous outbreaks that have been declared over.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility now has 77 people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Five inmates have been hospitalized.
The outbreak at a Vancouver chicken processing and packaging plant, United Poultry Company, still has 28 employees who tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Premier John Horgan, this outbreak was caused by employees who were sick but still showed up to work for fear of wage loss.
In response, Dr. Bonnie Henry addressed the fact that employees must be allowed to stay home if they are ill, as forcing people to go to work while sick during a pandemic could lead to an outbreak followed by a shut down of the business.
“Employers… must have measures in place to ensure everyone who is working is healthy and can keep a safe distance from each other. We do not penalize employees for staying home if they are ill during this pandemic,” said Dr. Henry.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,551,137.
Over 177,100 people have died from the illness and 688,356 have made a full recovery.
Premier John Horgan announced the addition of a new Urgent Primary Care Centre scheduled to open in Victoria next week.
The facility will be opening at a James Bay location near the B.C. Legislature building on Tuesday, April 28th.
This is the fourth new UPCC opening in B.C. this month, with three others located in Vernon, Abbotsford, and Castlegar as announced by Health Minister Adrian Dix on Tuesday.
Urgent Primary Care Centres provide access to same-day, urgent, non-emergency health care, including in the evening and on weekends, offering an alternative to emergency rooms in cases where patients do not necessarily need to hospital care for things like sprains and minor cuts and burns.
Currently there are two UPCCs in the Island Health region — one in Nanaimo and one in Langford. The facility opening on Monday in James Bay will be the first of its kind in Victoria.
According to Premier Horgan, the availability of these additional care facilities are particularly important during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
He also alluded to higher numbers of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in B.C. during Wednesday’s Ministry update that will be made by Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister Adrian Dix at 3 p.m.
Horgan says these numbers will be skewed by an outbreak detected at a poultry processing and packaging plant. United Poultry Company, in Vancouver. This outbreak was caused by employees who were sick but still showed up to work for fear of wage loss.
This outbreak and the outbreak at the Mission correctional facility act as a signal that B.C. should get too complacent, says the Premier.
He added that he intends to provide an update on how the province will start the process of economic recovery sooner than the middle of May, but needs to first ensure workplace safety in light of the poultry plant outbreak.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,621,444.
Over 182,900 people have died from the illness and 714,339 have made a full recovery.
Victoria Police have issued a warning to members of the public, particularly the Chinese community, after an attempted “virtual kidnapping” took place earlier this week.
On April 18th, VicPD were called to the 100-block of Harbour Road for a report of a suspicious circumstance involving a woman.
After speaking with the woman, police learned that she had been targeted by an attempted “virtual kidnapping” scam.
The woman was contacted by a Mandarin-speaking person six days earlier, who had claimed to be a member the Chinese police.
After speaking with the person on the phone, the woman was convinced that she needed to send money and other personal details to the scammer in order to protect her family at home in China.
The scammer was able to use the personal details they had obtained to convince the woman’s family in China that she was being held for ransom.
In this instance, the scam was interrupted before any money was transferred to the scammer.
VicPD want to remind the public of this “virtual kidnapping” scam, which generally targets the Chinese community.
Things to remember
The Chinese police or government cannot arrest you in Canada.
All policing related contact from the Chinese government will be through local police.
Canadian or Chinese authorities will not ask you to destroy a phone or to take photos or videos of yourself pretending to be the victim of a crime.
If you are contacted by someone claiming to be the Chinese police and they ask you to be of assist and investigation by pretending to be the victim of a crime, call (250) 995-7654 for assistance (even if they tell you not to).
The Victoria Police Department is here to help you. If you feel unsafe or threatened, please call 911.
The Canadian Mental Health Association, SafeCare BC and the province have launched a new online resource hub to provide support to health care workers battling COVID-19 on the front lines.
Care for Caregivers has been designed to protect and support the psychological health and well-being of health care workers currently responding to the ongoing pandemic.
The resource was developed to serve as an online hub of trusted mental health resources — curated by experts in the field — and has information and webinars designed specifically to support the psychological wellbeing of workers and managers in long-term care facilities.
“Frontline health care workers are working tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy during this unprecedented time, and they deserve support for their mental health now more than ever” said Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“That’s why our government is so proud to support Care for Caregivers, that provides much needed support for true heroes who do so much for this province every single day.”
This program looks to help to address the unique needs of workers caring for vulnerable patients, who are subsequently at a greater risk of exposure to COVID-19 than the general population.
Many care workers have not only been forced to isolate from their families cutting them off further from their usual social support networks, but are also working long hours in high stress situations and coping with compassion fatigue.
The Care for Caregivers project was developed by FreshWorks Studios, and has received funding from the Government of B.C.
It is a part of the $5 million funding package announced by the provincial government earlier this month to expand existing mental health programs and services to support British Columbians during the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,621,444.
Over 182,900 people have died from the illness and 714,339 have made a full recovery.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has had his fair share of ups and downs during his tenure, with his constituency finding ample reasons to both love and hate him since he was first voted into office in 2015.
In the most recent turn of events, an Angus Reid Institute study finds that Trudeau’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis has earned him a higher degree of admiration in the country than has been seen since 2017.
According to the study, the Prime Minister’s approval rating has risen by 21 points in the last two months, after an initial decline in approval after the blockades and protests triggered by the Coastal Gaslink-Wet’suwet’en dispute rocked the country before the pandemic.
Trudeau now has an approval rating of 54 per cent — a majority rating that has notably not been seen in almost three years — propelled mostly by high approval ratings in B.C., Ontario, and Atlantic Canada.
(Angus Reid Institute)
However voters who, in the past, voted for the Conservative Party or Bloc Quebecois continue to have a low opinion of Trudeau. His approval rating among older voters, aged 55 and above, is the biggest change, with an increase of 23 points.
The CPC continues to attract male voters of all ages, according to this study, while women tend to prefer the Liberals except young women aged 18 – 34 years old who appear to prefer the NDP.
Women of all ages also tend to support Trudeau while men are either divided or disapprove.
Police are searching for missing Calvin Dyck, a 35-year-old man who was last seen in Oak Bay.
According to Oak Bay Police, Dyck was last spotted in Oak Bay village on April 11th.
He has no fixed address and is known to frequent several communities in the CRD and Lower mainland.
“He is of no fixed address so that can place a person at a higher risk, however, we have no information to suggest that anything untoward has occurred,” said Oak Bay PD Deputy Chief Ray Bernoties in an emailed statement to Victoria Buzz.
From a photo shared by the police department, Dyck appears to be a white male with sandy or light brown hair and sideburns. According to Bernoties, the missing man stands 5’10 tall and weighs 150 lbs.
Anyone who sees him or knows his whereabouts is asked to contact Oak Bay Police at (250) 592-2424.
Victoria Police have arrested one woman in connection with seized weapons and a stolen bike from Topaz Park last weekend.
On April 18th at around 5:30 p.m., VicPD’s Community Services Division was on patrol in Topaz Park, and observed a woman in possession of a stolen bike.
The bike was stolen the previous day during a break and enter in the Saanich area.
The purple Juliana Joplin full suspension mountain bike was valued at around $8,000, and according to police, the suspect in question did not have a lawful reason for being in possession of it.
During the arrest of the woman for possession of stolen property, VicPD performed a search and found weapons, including a collapsible steel baton, a knife, and a hatchet on her person.
It was also discovered that the woman was prohibited from possessing weapons and from possessing bikes without written permission.
The recommended charges for the suspect include possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, failure to comply with a probation order, and failure to comply with an undertaking.
The stolen bike was later returned to the owner.
On the same day, VicPD also returned a separate stolen motorcycle back to the Island Motorcycle Company.
VicPD states that this incident highlights some of the proactive work they are doing to combat a rising trend in property crime in the Topaz Park area.
In the area around Topaz Park specifically, VicPD has seen an increase in property crime from six reported property crime incidents in the week of March 15th to 21st, up to twenty in the week of April 12th to 18th.
The Steve Miller Band concert originally scheduled for September 1st at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre says that the cancellation is out of “an abundance of caution”.
The Americana Tour was a 40-city summer tour that was slated to start in Austin, Texas on June 13th, immediately after Miller was to be inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in New York on June 11th.
The international tour was slotted to make it’s way across the US before playing two Canadian dates in September, in both Victoria and the PNE in Vancouver.
All tickets purchased at Select Your Tickets via the internet or phone sales will be automatically refunded to the purchasing credit card on file.
For more information on refunds, Select Your Tickets can be contacted at 250-220-7777.
Zipcar, a car sharing company popular among students in Victoria, has decided to cease operations in B.C. as of May 1st, 2020.
An email sent to members on Tuesday confirmed this fact, adding that the company will continue to operate in other cities across North America.
Zipcar, a company based in Boston, has been providing car share services in B.C. since 2007 and says memberships for B.C. residents remain open if they choose to use Zipcar in another location.
“Unfortunately, due to the complexities of operating in British Columbia, including local insurance regulations, we’ve had to make the tough choice to close Zipcar locations in your province,” reads a statement from the company.
While Zipcars were available to anyone in Victoria who required a vehicle for intermittent use, the vehicles were largely popular among post-secondary students in the city who could access them at the University of Victoria pickup point.
“Zipcar provided a car-share service that benefited students as a transportation alternative and it’s unfortunate the company was unable to continue operations at UVic, due to the current economic uncertainties,” said UVic spokesperson Paul Marck in an email to Victoria Buzz.
An alternative car share company, Modo, still operates in B.C. and on campus at UVic, thereby providing a suitable replacement for Zipcar.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed a $9 billion emergency aid package at his daily address Wednesday morning, aimed at helping post-secondary students in Canada struggling financially due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Trudeau detailed the package which consists of financial aid for students who may not be eligible for the current Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
The Canada Emergency Student Benefit will provide any student who qualifies $1,250 per month beginning this May, and lasting until August, 2020.
Students who take care of someone or have a disability are eligible to receive $1,750 per month from this benefit.
The aid is available to those currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution, headed to a post-secondary institution in September, or to any student who graduated after December 2019.
Those who meet the above criteria will qualify for this aid package if they have a job and only make up to $1,000 a month.
Trudeau says the federal government is also creating 76,000 jobs for young people, on top of the Canada Summer Job program.
He also announced that the government will be doubling the amount of student grants for the 2020-2021 school year, and any student volunteering this summer could be eligible for a $1,000 – $5,000 grant through the Canada Student Service Grant.
These new measures require legislation. Further details to come.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,592,373.
Over 181,000 people have died from the illness and 710,272 have made a full recovery.
Another large-scale summer event that brings Victoria to life every year will not be happening in 2020.
In accordance with provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry’s statement that gatherings of over 50 people will not be permitted this summer, the Victoria Pride Society has announced the cancellation of the annual pride parade.
This year’s Victoria Pride Parade was scheduled to take place on July 5th.
The annual event is traditionally accompanied by other LGBTQ2S+ themed events like the Big Gay Dog Walk and a 19+ party at the Royal BC Museum, all of which have also been cancelled.
“But while we won’t be able to come together for Pride like we normally would in 2020, Pride continues in Victoria,” reads a statement from the Victoria Pride Society.
“We know the power of community and we are looking at ways to provide spaces for our communities to safely come together during this time.”
The Society will continue to publish their monthly newsletter and the Youth Leadership Council will continue to meet virtually.
However Victoria Pride Society says they look forward to celebrating pride week — June 28th to July 5th — through online events.
In a letter published on Saturday, Vancouver Pride Society has announced that they will be moving their events to digital spaces and announcing a new plan in the coming weeks.
Canada’s 153rd birthday will look a whole lot different this year.
The City of Victoria has officially cancelled its annual Canada Day celebrations on Tuesday due to risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Lisa Helps confirmed the news during her daily media address. The news follows Saturday’s announcement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry that no large-scale events will be occurring this summer.
“Realistically, we will not be having those big events where people gather together this summer,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said during a news conference on April 18.
Helps said the decision comes as a big disappointment to her as it does for many others but she would look at supporting people in hosting smaller block parties.
Many cities across the country are looking at celebrating Canada Day in a virtual way
The federal government officially canned its annual Canada Day celebrations last Friday, opting to instead take the party online.
Canadian Heritage is planning a virtual show that will see Canadians tune in remotely to performances and other programming on July 1st.
“For Canada Day 2020, we are working with Canadian artists and artisans to put together a virtual program, reflecting our diversity and values, and showcasing the immense talent our country has to offer,” Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, wrote in a statement.
(Health Minister Adrian Dix, Dr. Bonnie Henry/BC Gov Flickr)
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 25 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,724 people.
In total, 707 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 715 in Fraser Health, 109 on Vancouver Island, 153 in Interior Health and 40 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 109 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 51 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decline in hospitalizations.
Sadly, one new death was reported today and the death toll is now at 87 in total across the province.
In good news, a total of 1,041 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C. Most recent data from the BC CDC, dated April 20th shows that 71 people in Island Health Region have been declared recovered from COVID-19.
There are now outbreaks at 20 long term care centres on the mainland and one unit in an acute care facility, the hardest hit of which is the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver. A total of 319 people at long term care facilities have tested positive for the virus.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility now has 76 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, 65 of whom are inmates and 11 staff members.
An additional outbreak has been detected at a chicken processing and packaging plant, United Poultry Company, in Vancouver where 28 employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Those employees were not recorded as part of today’s total number of new cases as the tests were conducted recently, but will be reflected in the numbers over the next few days.
Dr. Bonnie Henry says there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread through the consumption of meat products or via packaging.
“We will find our new normal in the coming weeks but it is not yet the time to lessen our guard,” said Dr. Henry, reiterating her usual message to stay the course and keep following provincial health directives until otherwise advised.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,551,137.
Over 177,100 people have died from the illness and 688,356 have made a full recovery.
(Homeless camp along Pandora Ave/Photo by Margaret MacQuarrie - Facebook)
The BC Coroners Service is investigating the death of a 37-year-old man at the homeless encampment along Pandora Ave.
In an email to Victoria Buzz, the Coroners Service confirmed they were notified of the death on April 17th and are currently in the early stages of their investigation to determine the cause.
Dozens of tents have been pitched along the 900-block of Pandora Ave after the closure of shelters like Our Place Society during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The temporary homeless camp at Topaz Park authorized by the City of Victoria now has 200 tents and is currently at capacity.
Thus far, 115 motel rooms have been obtained by BC Housing to provide shelter to homeless and vulnerable populations in Victoria.
The City of Victoria has sent a letter to the provincial government asking them to exercise their emergency powers to find indoor accommodations by requisitioning hotels, motels, and other indoor facilities for the purposes of housing homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These units would then be provided to homeless people who are do not display symptoms of COVID-19 but are at risk of contracting and/or transmitting the virus.
During the Ministry of Health’s daily briefing on Monday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed that the province is working on a coordinated plan that provides housing for those who need it, and also offer strategies to support people dealing with both the opioid overdose and COVID-19 crises.
Victoria Police have impounded a motorcycle and issued its rider over $1,300 in violation tickets, after a traffic stop downtown on Monday night.
At around 8 p.m. on April 20th, VicPD stopped a motorcycle in the 2300-block of Blanshard Street.
The motorcycle was clocked in at going around 140 km/hr — the speed limit in this area is 50 km/hr.
Upon stopping the rider, VicPD discovered that he was without a motorcycle license, and the motorcycle did not have insurance.
The rider was fined over $1,300 in violation tickets for excessive speed, no insurance, and no license. The motorcycle was impounded for seven days.
VicPD reminds the public to obey posted speed limits, despite less traffic on the roads, and states that May will be High Risk Driving Awareness Month.
Police will continue to monitor the roads in May and will be focused on targeting high risk driving.
In his daily address this morning, Prime Minister Trudeau announced the applications for the much-awaited Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy are set to open next week.
Businesses hoping to access funds through the emergency wage subsidy program will be able to apply starting on Monday, April 27th.
Last month, Trudeau informed Canadians that all small and medium-sized businesses – whose revenue has decreased by 30% or more because of the COVID-19 pandemic – will be eligible for the 75% wage subsidy.
As for what this could look like for employees, the Prime Minister stated specifically that the government will offer up to 75% of salaries on the first $58,700 – this will break down to $847 per week.
The subsidy will be offered regardless of the number of employees the business has, and will be back-dated to March 15th, 2020.
To aid the application process, the federal government has launched a new wage subsidy calculator on the Canada Revenue Agency website, which has been set up to help businesses determine the amount of funding that they could receive.
Federal officials say this tool is beneficial to businesses and should be accessed as soon as possible. Employers will be able to print out results, then use that data in the official application process.
Filling out the calculator ahead of time means businesses can cut down the application process on Monday exponentially.
Officials have said they expect to process around 90 per cent of applications in the first week of May, which will ensure that funds get distributed as quickly as possible.
One of Victoria’s largest weekly summer farmer’s markets is back for its 29th year at a new and expanded location to help vendors and customers practice proper physical distancing.
As of Saturday, April 18th, Moss Street Market has moved from their traditional location on the Sir James Douglas school grounds and Moss Street and Thurlow Road boulevards.
With permission from the City of Victoria, organizers have moved the Saturday farmer’s market temporarily to Porter Park and Brooke Street Park in Fairfield.
According to a statement from organizers, the move was made due to farmer spring harvests increasing and more customers anticipated in the coming weeks.
The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 25th and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on every Saturday in May.
Farmers markets have been deemed an essential service by the BC CDC and can remain open as long as they only allow vendors selling farm produce like fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, frozen meats, edible plants and seedlings, prepared foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and liquor.
To ensure compliance with public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, Moss Street Market has issued a number of rules and measures, like marking vendor queues with two metre separations, banning food sampling, enhanced cleaning, and more.
Customers attending Moss Street Market this year are asked to make their trips shorter, not eat or drink on site, and, where possible, send only one person from the household to the market.
For those who cannot or don’t want to attend the market in person, organizers have set up an online store at localline.ca/moss-street-market and an Online Order Pickup Tent.
We're expanding our market to a new location! Until recently, our regular location on Sir Jame's Douglas school grounds…
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,529,094.
Over 174,500 people have died from the illness and 667,609 have made a full recovery.
One man was arrested after a shooting incident in the Duncan area early Sunday morning.
According to North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP, police received a call at around 6:30 a.m. from a resident who reported hearing a gunshot in the Boys Road area.
Officers patrolling the area discovered that a shot was fired through the window of a house in the 5000-block of Daniels Crescent.
No one inside the home was injured, but RCMP believe the house was targeted for this crime.
Police from the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP, Shawinigan Lake RCMP, South Vancouver Island Traffic Services, Police Dog Services, Emergency Response Team and Forensic Identification Services searched multiple locations in the Duncan area where suspects were believed to be hiding.
“The response and teamwork from multiple detachments and units on Vancouver Island allowed for a quick conclusion of the event,” said Watch Commander Sgt. Adam Tallboy. “The goal of first responders is to insure the safety of the community and its members.”
Police were able to identify multiple suspects and one man from the Duncan area was arrested for weapon-related offences.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522 or Crime Stoppers.
A remote community off the coast of Vancouver Island has declared a local state of emergency after a COVID-19 cluster outbreak.
The Village of Alert Bay on Cormorant Island located northeast of Vancouver Island is the location of a cluster outbreak of COVID-19 cases after its Mayor, Dennis Buchanan, tested positive for the virus last week.
As a result, the municipality was given permission by Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth to declare a local state of emergency.
This state of emergency exists in the Village of Alert Bay and the Regional District of Mount Waddington until midnight on Friday, April 24th, 2020 unless otherwise stated.
Authorities are now restricting ferry travel to and from the island to essential traffic only and, according to a statement from Mayor Buchanan, people will need passes to travel on the ferries.
“This is not only to protect local residents but also to keep people from taking the COVID-19 virus off of this island and contaminating people elsewhere,” said Buchanan.
A curfew has been put in place as of April 19th requiring all residents to be at home from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. An alarm is sounded at 9 p.m. to give people time to return to their homes.
The Village of Alert Bay will also have no garbage or recycling pick up service until further notice. Those who have a vehicle are asked to bring their garbage to the transfer station at designated times between Tuesday and Saturday at no charge.
In light of these announcements, Mayor Buchanan implores residents not to blame each other.
“This is a worldwide epidemic, so just try and stay calm, wash your hands, try not to touch your face and please stay home.”
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,529,094.
Over 174,500 people have died from the illness and 667,609 have made a full recovery.
West Shore RCMP are investigating after two Second World War era rifles went missing during a break-in at the Royal Canadian Legion in Langford.
The break and enter occurred on April 7th but police have not been able to locate the stolen weapons.
Police learned that a gun safe on the property was broken into sometime overnight and two deactivated World War II era No. 5 Lee Enfield rifles were stolen.
The photo below is a stock photo similar to the guns stolen, but with a dark stained wood grain stock.
Last week, West Shore RCMP said they have increased the number of officers patrolling the western communities after seeing a large spike in property crime in March.
Police have seen an increase in stolen vehicles, shoplifting, fraud, and reports of break and enter into businesses in the past month.
Police are requesting anyone with information regarding this crime to contact the West Shore RCMP non-emergency line at 250-474-2264, or report anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the creation of a $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund in an effort to help charities and non-profits keep up with increased demands during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program was launched as a way to aid these community supports in keeping up their work assisting Canada’s most vulnerable.
Trudeau says that because these groups have had to change the way they deliver services due to strict public health measures, vulnerable populations like seniors may be left without the programs they rely on.
The newly announced funding will go to smaller front-line organizations, as well as larger groups. The bigger national groups can “get funds to local organizations and vulnerable people quickly,” Trudeau said.
The fund will go towards programs like United Way and the Canadian Red Cross.
Additionally, Trudeau announced employers will be able to apply for the 75% emergency wage subsidy as of Monday, April 27th.
The Prime Minister also said the federal government will be launching a new calculator on the Canada Revenue Agency website to help businesses determine how much they will be able to claim through the wage subsidy program.
During her daily briefing on Monday afternoon, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps responded to allegations of rising crime rates in the area surrounding Topaz Park.
After the closure of multiple homeless shelters in Victoria led to the displacement of vulnerable populations, many set up camps along Pandora Avenue.
To address the possibility of COVID-19 transmission due to lack of hygiene facilities and proper distancing measures, the City of Victoria decided to allow homeless populations to set up camp in Topaz Park.
From the outset of this measure, Mayor Helps has stated that the allowing an encampment Topaz Park is a stopgap measure until BC Housing and provincial authorities can find enough indoor shelter spaces for everyone who needs housing.
However over the past few weeks, VicPD have detected a spike in crime in the area around Topaz Park, with some blaming Victoria city council for the increase.
To this, Mayor Helps responded that while she is concerned about the level of crime in the area, it’s not productive to point fingers.
“We’re taking all the steps that we can but I think finger pointing is no good and the way that we’re gonna get through this is keeping the pressure on me, on council, and on the province,” said Helps.
She added that the increase in property crime can be attributed to the concentration of over 200 people facing specific health, mental health, and poverty challenges.
This is not because poor people commit crime, says Helps, but because of the effects of an increase in prices of drugs during the pandemic in a group of people suffering from addictions, whose needs are not being properly met at the moment.
“In the end what I’m convinced of is that everybody that’s working on this wants to do the right thing which is, in a public health emergency, to have nobody living outside.”
Another allegation was sent to Mayor Helps by Rabbi Meir Kaplan of the Chabad Jewish Centre located across from Topaz Park who argued that the City of Victoria wanted to set up a homeless camp at the park five years ago and is now using this pandemic to push that agenda through.
Helps responded by calling this view “extremely cynical” and “preposterous”, reiterating that Topaz Park is meant to be temporary until resources can be found to move unsheltered people indoors.
Last week, the city sent a letter to the provincial government asking them to exercise their emergency powers to find indoor accommodations by requisitioning hotels, motels, and other indoor facilities for the purposes of housing homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These units would then be provided to homeless people who are do not display symptoms of COVID-19 but are at risk of contracting and/or transmitting the virus.
No response has been provided by the province as of Monday afternoon.
During the Ministry of Health’s daily briefing on Monday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed that the province is working on a coordinated plan that provides housing for those who need it, and also offer strategies to support people dealing with both the opioid overdose and COVID-19 crises.
In line with measures taken at Beacon Hill Park and on Dallas Road, the city of Victoria is imposing temporary parking restrictions in James Bay.
During her daily briefing on Monday, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps announced temporary on-street parking restrictions in the James Bay neighbourhood to allow pedestrians more space to practice physical distancing directives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want people to be safe and comfortable when they are out and about,” said Helps. “By creating additional designated pedestrian zones near important services, we can relieve pinch points and allow people to remain active.”
As of Thursday, April 23rd, on-street parking will be temporarily restricted on Simcoe Street, between Government and Oswego, and for half a block of Menzies Street approaching the Five Corners retail complex.
The changes will be demarcated with bollards, signs, and paint and letters will be sent to residents and business in the area to inform them about the measures.
The City of Victoria is also looking at introducing similar measures in other city neighbourhoods near areas with grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential services, and in Quadra Village, Cook Street Village, Fairfield, and Vic West in the coming weeks.
The municipal transportation department is working with private development sites to provide more space to pedestrians next to construction zones.
Staff will also be installing new signs at transit shelters and at the Johnson Street Bridge multi-use and pedestrian pathways to promote physical distancing.
High traffic locations with narrow sidewalks are being prioritized for these measures.
Line up for groceries outside Thrifty Foods, Hillside mall/Photo by Brishti Basu
With physical distancing measures becoming the norm over the past month, one of the most common sights in Victoria these days are the snaking six-feet-apart lines outside grocery stores and supermarkets.
Most people across the province have been diligently abiding by provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry’s orders, which led to B.C. flattening our COVID-19 case curve just last week.
And while this is good news, it doesn’t mean any of the physical distancing measures will be lifted until at least mid-May.
For grocery stores and supermarkets, this means we’ll continue to have to line up outside, two metres apart, as we wait for shoppers inside to exit so that the store can maintain its capacity of one person per two meters squared or four square meters of retail floor space at any given time.
This means, much like the situation at walk-in clinics during those pre-pandemic days, there are now wait times to get into some local stores.
Fortunately, technology has — for the most part — kept pace with the evolving needs of our time.
There is now a designated website where people around the world can log and check wait times at grocery stores and supermarkets near their location.
For example, as of the time of publication, the Fairway Market near this reporter’s house recorded a 25 minute wait time to get inside.
The site operates by using information fed by users, so take what this tool says with a grain of salt — at least in the short run.
Overall, it could prove a handy site to check before venturing forth on your next run for yeast or toilet paper.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 52 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,699 people.
There were 29 new cases of test positive COVID-19 cases in the period between Saturday and Sunday, and an additional 23 between Sunday and mid-day on Monday.
In total, 700 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 705 in Fraser Health, 102 on Vancouver Island, 153 in Interior Health and 39 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 104 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 49 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decline in hospitalizations.
Sadly, five new deaths were reported today and the death toll is now at 86 in total across the province.
In good news, a total of 1,039 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C. Most recent data from the BC CDC, dated April 17th shows that 58 people in Island Health Region have been declared recovered from COVID-19.
There are now outbreaks at 21 long term care centres on the mainland, the hardest hit of which is the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver. A total of 307 people at long term care facilities have tested positive for the virus.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility now has 75 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, 64 of whom are inmates.
Authorities have also detected seven people who tested positive for the virus after returning from the Kearl Lake oil sands project in Alberta, where there is an ongoing outbreak.
In light of these tests, Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued a new provincial health order requiring anyone who has returned to B.C. from the Kearl Lake project since March 15th to self isolate for 14 days after their return.
Dr. Henry also added that the Ministry of Health has switched their testing policy over the past 10 days to more broad testing in order to catch community transmission.
Now, anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 — like cough, fever, and shortness of breath — or has had contact with someone who has the virus can now, once again, get tested.
However she emphasized that not everyone needs to get tested, particularly those who do not have symptoms of the virus.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,473,566.
Over 170,100 people have died from the illness and 645,019 have made a full recovery.
Nanaimo RCMP are warning the public about a scam that uses Craigslist in an attempt to rent a home.
In a statement, police said they were contacted last Friday by a couple who told investigators they responded to an ad on Craigslist which advertised a home for rent on Tamara Drive for $1,800.
Within 30 minutes, the couple received an email from a man known as Terry White.
After some back and forth emails and a phone call, the couple were approved to rent the home and the final step involved sending one month’s rent and a damage deposit to Terry White, who would then mail them the key to the residence.
“The couple found this exchange and process quite strange and by doing their due diligence and using the Google toolbar, the actual owner was located,” police said.
The owner verified the house in question was on the market for sale, not for rent, and did not know who Terry White was.
At that point, all communication with the scammer was broken off.
“Scammers often use Craigslist and other similar platforms to push their scams. This was couple however was not going to be fooled. A simple google search and phone call was enough for them to see it for what it was, a scam”, said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
A new Research Co. poll has found that the current state of Canadian workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic may have an impact on how they continue to work in the future.
According to the survey, 73 per cent of Canadians think more people will “definitely” or “probably” work from home than they did before the COVID-19 outbreak.
Additionally, 63 per cent of Canadians expect more businesses to phase out travel, in favour of teleconferencing.
“Many Canadians believe some of the current features of their job will remain in place once offices are fully operational again,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co.
“Two thirds of Atlantic Canadians (67 per cent) and Quebecers (also 67 per cent) believe meetings that do not require travel will become the norm.”
Those Canadians currently working from home — as opposed to their regular office — were asked specifically about issues that may arise as they continue their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey says 65 per cent — almost two thirds — of Canada’s “provisional home workers” stated they would like the option to be able to work from home more often after the pandemic is over. This is raised to 72 per cent among men, and 76 per cent among those aged 55 and over.
(Research Co.)
Working from home has been easier than they originally thought, say 62 per cent of home workers across the country.
However nearly half still admit that are having a difficult time working due to the distractions at home.
More than half of the British Columbian respondents say distractions are a big concern while working from home, while only 23 per cent of those in Atlantic Canada feel the same way.
Two thirds of Canadians are missing interacting with coworkers at their regular offices, and a smaller portion — 44 per cent — miss the daily commute to their workplace.
When it comes to feeling their company trusts they are doing their work from home adequately, the survey states 80 per cent of Canadians feel this is the case, and 69 per cent think their place of work is equipped to continue to offer a work-from-home model.
The results of this poll are based on an online study conducted between April 9th and 11th among 1,000 adults that form a representative sample of the Canadian population.
The data was weighed statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
The B.C. provincial government has announced new and expanded resources to service rural, remote and Indigenous communities battling COVID-19 across the province.
In an announcement on Monday, Premier John Horgan and Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser announced an expanded medical transportation fleet to service remote and Indigenous communities.
This framework includes the addition of 55 new ambulances throughout the province, and seven fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for medical transport.
It also creates housing options for people looking to self-isolate near their families while staying in their home communities.
The province will also be deploying faster COVID-19 testing technology to these regions through this initiative, including culturally safe contact tracing that respects privacy in small communities.
The faster testing methods underway include GeneXpert test kits, which take less than 45 minutes to complete.
Many of these instruments are already being used in First Nations Health Authority, Northern Health, Interior Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, and Fraser Health regions.
According to a statement from the province, more GeneXpert instruments will arrive in the coming weeks.
“Indigenous communities have been harder hit in past pandemics and are vulnerable to COVID-19. Elders in particular, as critical knowledge keepers and holders of language, culture and teachings, must be protected,” said Minister Scott Fraser.
“Having plans and supports tailored to the unique circumstances and challenges in remote Indigenous communities will support these communities in caring for their residents.”
This new framework will also provide access to Virtual Doctor of the Day, a program that connects First Nations members and their families in remote communities to a doctor or nurse practitioner using videoconferencing.
Leaders within these rural and Indigenous communities will determine how these services will be implemented in their regions.
One young woman in Victoria has been using her quarantine time to help seniors combat loneliness in isolation.
Josie Gair, a teacher living near Cook Street Village, started her isolation period before most others after returning from travel abroad just as countries started closing their borders as a result of COVID-19 spreading through international travel.
Staying isolated from others was a distinct shift in routine for Gair, much like it is for many people maintaining proper physical distances, which got her thinking about how her own grandparents must be feeling.
“It crossed my mind that I should call my grandmas a little more often because they both live on their own. My staying at home all the time was such a huge contrast for me but I realized that they do that anyway,” said Gair in a phone interview with Victoria Buzz.
“At the same time we ended up being restricted from visits to seniors in care homes which is where my partner’s grandma is — normally we’d get to take her out once or twice a week. That was another shift that was seeming quite sad.”
So she decided to spring into action and create a list of volunteers who would be available for seniors to call whenever they felt lonely and wanted a chat.
Gair and her partner created a Google Form asking interested volunteers to provide their name, phone number, availability, and a short blurb about themselves.
The form was then posted on Facebook, in various COVID-19 Victoria support groups, before being shared far and wide.
Since its release, the initiative has received nearly 200 entries from volunteers on Vancouver Island, the mainland, and even Calgary where Gair is originally from.
Distribution
“My project right now is getting it out,” says Gair, as there are now more than enough volunteers for seniors to choose from.
“I’m not so much looking for people to volunteer to be on the call list, but my main focus right now is just distributing it. I’m looking for people who maybe work in a care home, or someone who has an elderly neighbour that’s locked in their home, or someone who has a loved one in a care home, to find and share this list.”
Those who do choose to call someone on the list are asked to be wary, however, as the grassroots nature of this initiative means none of the volunteers have had a background check.
A disclaimer at the top of the document that contains the list provides a variety of tips for callers to maintain their safety, including ways to make their phone number appear anonymous.
“I’m just a normal person and these are just normal people looking to help,” says Gair. “This [list] shouldn’t get into the hands of someone who doesn’t have the capacity to hang up a phone call if they start to feel threatened.”
Distributing the list to care homes has proved somewhat of a challenge but understandably so, as some facilities are not comfortable with using a service that isn’t regulated while others cater to seniors who may not be able to safely use the list.
“But I have distributed to quite a number of homes throughout the city that are super keen,” she adds.
“I’ve distributed this as well to a number of individuals who want to send it to people who approach me directly and say that they know someone who should have it. And I’ve heard back from some of those people who say their family members are really loving it!”
Last month, the provincial government expanded their 2-1-1 phone line in order to connect seniors with volunteer callers as well as provide services like grocery and medication delivery.
In comparison, Gair says her volunteer call list is more home grown and therefore more informal.
“This is just a friendly call,” she says. “It might be a little easier to pick up the phone and just call one of these numbers.”
Anyone who wishes to access the volunteer call list can email Josie Gair at josiegair@icould.com.
One of Victoria’s most acclaimed resort hotels has been listed for sale, with a price tag of $5,632,000.
Sooke Harbour House overlooks Whiffin Spit, Sooke Harbour and the Salish Sea, and has been a dining and lodging destination for many years.
Owners Frederique and Sinclair Philip opened the picturesque waterfront hotel 37 years ago, creating a 28-room resort and restaurant that quickly became a popular spot for locals and visitors alike — including movie stars — earning multiple local and international tourism awards.
But by 2014, the business was in danger of defaulting on nearly $3 million worth of loans from the Business Development Bank of Canada.
The property, though still under ownership by Sooke Harbour House Inc., is currently managed by Timothy Durkin.
The Canada Border Services Agency claims Durkin is currently the subject of an arrest warrant in relation to an alleged Ponzi scheme in the United States.
Building space totals 33,405 square feet and the listing includes a nearby parking area, restaurant, and in addition to all of the structures on the property, 2.5-acres of waterfront land are part of the sale.
The Victoria Royals have announced that they have acquired a Victoria-born defenceman, in exchange for centreman Kaid Oliver.
The Royals’ new acquisition Jacson Alexander hails from the Edmonton Oil Kings. In addition, they also received a third and seventh round selection in this Wednesday’s WHL Bantam Draft in the trade.
2000-born centre Kaid Oliver is headed to Edmonton in exchange, as well as a fourth round pick in this year’s draft and a conditional fourth round pick in 2023.
Oliver spent four seasons with the Royals, after having played in 234 career regular season games.
This past season, Oliver tallied 22 goals and 25 assists in 51 games – his career has seen 128 points in way of 57 goals and 71 assists.
In the post-season, Oliver played in 15 career games and tallied two points.
Jacson Alexander is a product of the Victoria Racquet Club Minor Hockey Association, and only played 13 games with Edmonton this past season due injury – he recorded six points in 5 goals and 1 assist in that time, and two penalty minutes.
The defenceman clocks in at 5’10”, 182 lb and has skated in 60 career WHL games split between the Oil Kings and Swift Current Broncos.
In total, he has registered 5 goals and 11 assists, to go along with 14 minutes in penalties.
Alexander played 26 games in the 2018 WHL Playoffs for the Broncos, and helped capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions.
Jacson was originally selected by Swift Current in the first round at 17th overall in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.
The Royals also completed another trade last week, acquiring 2002-born forward Nick Dorrington, a fourth round pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft and a seventh round pick in this year’s draft from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
This was in exchange for 2000-born defenceman Mitch Prowse, an eighth round pick in 2022 and a conditional seventh round pick in 2023.
Resurfacing of three parts of Vancouver Island highways are scheduled for this spring and summer, including sections of the Mckenzie Interchange and Langford Parkway.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure stated that the work is a part of an $8.5-million project to improve conditions for people who travel on these routes.
With reduced traffic volumes due to COVID-19, work will be happening during the day and overnight with minimal impact on essential travel.
Drivers travelling through the work zones can expect single-lane traffic while the resurfacing is being completed.
An 8 km section of Highway 1 will be resurfaced between the new McKenzie Interchange and Leigh Road, including all on- and off-ramps in the area.
Around 2.5 kilometres of Highway 14 near the Westshore Parkway will also be resurfaced, and drivers can expect lane closures during the work.
The resurfacing of sections Highway 14 and Highway 1 is currently expected to begin in spring 2020.
Peters Brothers Construction Ltd. of Penticton has been contracted to complete the work, and the ministry is working closely alongside them and WorkSafeBC to ensure proper health and safety amid COVID-19.
Though highways and roads remain open, the The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure reminds people stay close to home and avoid any non-essential travel during this time.
A motorcyclist was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries Saturday afternoon after a serious collision with a car near Nanaimo.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, the crash occurred around 4 p.m. near the intersection of Morden and Waring roads in South Wellington.
A 20-year-old driver in a Honda Civic was driving eastbound on Morden Road when he tried to make a U-turn.
A 28-year-old motorcyclist who was travelling west on Morden Road collided with the Civic’s passenger side of the vehicle. The rider was airlifted to Victoria with life-threatening injuries.
Two other motorcyclists with the first rider were also involved in the collision. A 30-year-old was taken to a Nanaimo hospital with serious injuries. The third rider, aged 46, suffered minor injuries and didn’t require hospitalization.
The driver of the car and his 23-year-old passenger were not injured and remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
Alcohol and drugs have been ruled out as a factor in the crash and all vehicles involved were seized to undergo mechanical inspections, according to police.
The road was closed for several hours while investigators examined the scene.
Saturday’s crash is the second significant collision this week in the Nanaimo area that resulted in serious injuries to a motorcyclist.
On Monday, 47-year-old Nathaniel Olson was hospitalized with life-threatening when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car making a left-hand turn at the intersection of Hammond Bay Road and Stephenson Point Road.
According to a GoFundMe, the crash resulted in Olson losing his left leg and several other serious but non-life threatening injuries.
“May is motorcycle safety month and this is a tragic reminder that everyone plays a part in keeping our streets and highways safe,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
Nanaimo RCMP provided the following tips for motorcyclists and motorists alike:
Check blind spots, using mirrors and turn signals when changing lanes or merging into traffic
Ride sober
Maintain an appropriate distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you
Scan your environment, and be alert to potential dangers and react appropriately
Ride within the posted speed limit, reduce speed during inclement weather
UPDATE: Thomas Poulsen’s mother has confirmed that her son was one of the two men found dead at Topaz Park on Wednesday.
“Our search for my son Thomas has ended in tragedy. He was found earlier today at Topaz Park deceased,” Maureen Vincent wrote of her son on Facebook.
“He is finally at peace with himself. I am numb. Disbelief. I appreciate all the messages and support.”
Earlier:
Victoria police are asking for the public’s assistance as they work to locate a high-risk 26-year-old old missing man.
Thomas Poulsen was last seen April 10th in the Topaz Park area.
Police say he is wanted on outstanding warrants, however, they are more concerned for his well-being. Thomas was reported missing by his family.
“The circumstances under which” Thomas has gone missing are considered high-risk. Officers are working to locate him to ensure that he is safe,” VicPD said in a release.
Thomas is described as a 26-year-old Caucasian man with short brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5’11” tall, with a slender build and weighs about 160 lbs.
If you see him, police ask that you call 911.
Anyone with information is asked to call VicPD at (250) 995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
As of today, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said those caught price gouging or buying and reselling medical supplies at an inflated price will receive a hefty fine.
The provincial government has given police and other enforcement officers the power to issue $2,000 fines to people who price gouge or resell essential goods, including personal protective equipment during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The measures are effective immediately under the provincial state of emergency through powers under the Emergency Program Act.
Farnworth, who made the announcement during a Sunday morning press conference, says Consumer Protection BC has already received more than 800 complaints about these types of practices.
“The province is also calling upon enforcement staff from local government and provincial ministries to support enforcement by issuing these tickets for the duration of the current state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“British Columbians have enough to deal with right now.”
Effective immediately, police officers, municipal bylaw officers, liquor and cannabis inspectors, gaming inspectors, conservation officers, community safety unit inspectors, park rangers, natural resource officers, commercial vehicle safety officials and sheriffs will all be able to hand out fines.
There are multiple ways of reporting an incident of secondhand selling or price gouging including contacting Consumer Protection BC , reach out to your local by-law enforcement officer, call 311, or contact your local police department’s non-emergency line.
When reporting price gouging to Consumer Protection BC, make sure to include the following information:
Your name and contact information, for possible follow up
The type of product being sold, the new price, and the previous price if possible
Any evidence, if possible, such as a picture or receipt
The name of the business and the address, including the city
All these complaints will be investigated.
Additionally, tickets will also be issued as required to anyone who exceeds the quantity limits on the sale of specified items and hotels or lodging operators not providing accommodation for self-isolation facilities or to support essential workers.
A lot has changed since April 20th, 2019, but not everything.
We’re all missing our typical daily ‘things to do’ articles, and though the list of activities you can partake in at home isn’t as extensive, there are still plenty of ways to have a good time this Monday to enjoy 4/20 – especially with a little help from our friends at High5 Retail!
Though we can’t gather to celebrate this year’s unofficial holiday, we can still take comfort in the fact that we’re all in this together, and that certain products are still as legal as they’ve been since October 17, 2018.
That being said, there are still plenty of other things to do this Monday, and we’ve listed a few of them below…
Check out these 420 things to do on what is perhaps BC’s favourite holiday:
415 – 1. Visit a local dispensary, such as High5 Retail, conveniently located in Vic West (with free parking!).
Though this 4/20 will undoubtedly be an unusual one for all of us, some things can stay the same. High5 supplies dried cannabis, cannabis oils, sprays, edibles and accessories, cannabis drinks, vapes and topicals with a spotlight on education for non-medical users. Their products may or may not help with Thing To Do #419.
Their Vic West shop, which opened in mid-January, is locally owned and operated, with a large focus on customer experience
If you stop by, let them know Victoria Buzz sent you for a little bit of extra High5 love!
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 29 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,647 people.
In total, 686 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 680 in Fraser Health, 97 on Vancouver Island, 150 in Interior Health and 34 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 115 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 54 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decline in hospitalizations.
Sadly, three new deaths were reported today and the death toll is now at 81 in total across the province. All three people who died from
There are now 63 test-positive COVID-19 patients that have been detected at the Mission Institute outbreak and six people have been hospitalized.
In good news, a total of 987 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C. Data from the BC CDC shows that 58 out of the 94 cases in Island Health Region have been declared recovered.
There continue to be COVID-19 outbreaks at 20 long term care centres on the mainland, the hardest hit of which is the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver. A total of 288 people at long term care facilities have tested positive for the virus.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility now has 70 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, 60 of whom are inmates.
“We took very quick action to get us into this, but we don’t want all of the sacrifices that we’ve been doing across the province to be for naught,” said Dr. Henry in talking about when and how to start easing some of the restrictions put in place due to the pandemic.
She added that health authorities need to think in terms of two week increments due to the 14-day incubation period for this virus, meaning we may start seeing impacts of Easter long weekend travel in the coming days.
No restrictions will be eased in the coming two weeks, but the province is planning out what things will look like in the middle of May when they can start to take steps to increase social and business interactions, as well as opening up the health care system.
“The new normal will however be a modification of some of the things we need to do today,” said Dr. Henry.
On Friday, she stated that there are a number of milestones the province has yet to achieve before authorities can consider lifting some more restrictions.
We now need to see a continued decrease in numbers of new cases per day, no new outbreaks, and a decreasing number of people admitted to hospital for COVID-19.
Additionally, there needs to be an appropriate amount of testing available, — “we’re getting there,” she said on that score — and serology testing to be able to tell where community cases are originating from.
“Our new normal in the months ahead will be a modification of what we are doing now. The physical distancing measures, staying home if you are ill and following good hand hygiene will continue,” said the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry says they will reach out to different sectors of the industry to provide clear parameters and work with their individual needs to determine ways to reopen the economy in the coming months.
So far, B.C. has conducted over 60,000 tests over the course of the pandemic.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,312,069.
Over 158,800 people have died from the illness and 591,278 have made a full recovery.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 43 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,618 people.
In total, 680 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 661 in Fraser Health, 94 on Vancouver Island, 150 in Interior Health and 33 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 119 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 52 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decline in hospitalizations.
No new deaths were reported today and the death toll remains at 78 in total across the province.
There are now 63 test-positive COVID-19 patients that have been detected at the Mission Institute outbreak and six people have been hospitalized.
In good news, a total of 966 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C. Data from the BC CDC shows that 53 out of the 94 cases in Island Health Region have been declared recovered.
“Recovery criteria for the Vancouver Health Authority have been updated to more accurately reflect recovery,” reads a statement from the Ministry of Health.
“New methods include consideration for specific patient symptomology. This has resulted in the decrease in patients considered recovered.”
There continue to be COVID-19 outbreaks at 20 long term care centres on the mainland, the hardest hit of which is the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver.
So far, B.C. has conducted approximately 60,000 tests over the course of the pandemic.
Steps forward
Earlier today, health authorities provided modelling data to showcase the fact that he COVID-19 transmission curve has flattened in B.C.
According to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, the flattening of B.C.’s epidemic curve is owed mostly to stringent public health measures like travel restrictions, school and business closures, and physical distancing directives.
Based on modelling data presented today, the number of new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. started to decrease two weeks after these public health measures were introduced.
“We are in the eye of the storm in a Category 5 hurricane. The risk is still very high and there are many unknowns, but we are hopeful that with all of us standing strong, the storm will continue to lessen,” reads a statement from the Ministry this afternoon.
The province now plans to ramp up COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. Deputy Minister Stephen Brown says authorities will continue to stock up on ventilators and build up the province’s critical care capacity to prepare for a second wave of the outbreak that may occur in fall and winter.
There are a number of milestones the province has yet to achieve before authorities can consider lifting some more restrictions.
According to Dr. Bonnie Henry, we now need to see a continued decrease in numbers of new cases per day, no new outbreaks, and a decreasing number of people admitted to hospital for COVID-19.
Additionally, there needs to be an appropriate amount of testing available, — “we’re getting there,” she said on that score — and serology testing to be able to tell where community cases are originating from.
“Our new normal in the months ahead will be a modification of what we are doing now. The physical distancing measures, staying home if you are ill and following good hand hygiene will continue,” said the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry says they will reach out to different sectors of the industry to provide clear parameters and work with their individual needs to determine ways to reopen the economy in the coming months.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,235,370.
Over 153,800 people have died from the illness and 569,937 have made a full recovery.
