COVID-19

B.C. gym forced to close due to B.C. COVID mandate calls for essential service status

Gyms, fitness centres and bars were recently ordered to close under new Omicron-related measures

Kelowna Courthouse. (Phil McLachlan-Capital News/FILE)

Prominent Kelowna anti-lockdown protester faces assault charges

David Lindsay faces two counts of assault related to an incident on August 19

Kelowna Courthouse. (Phil McLachlan-Capital News/FILE)
The BC School COVID Tracker website and Facebook page have nearly 60,000 followers, and has become a ‘go-to’ source for the latest information on COVID exposures within the BC School system. (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)

B.C. COVID school tracker website continues to grow

Website authenticates all information before adding to database

The BC School COVID Tracker website and Facebook page have nearly 60,000 followers, and has become a ‘go-to’ source for the latest information on COVID exposures within the BC School system. (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)
Campbell River residents have to turn to their home gyms for a while. File photo.

City adjusts Sportsplex offerings due to provincial health order

Weight room closed; fitness programs suspended

Campbell River residents have to turn to their home gyms for a while. File photo.
Robbie Thompson, pictured at the Canadian Transplant Games, has made a documentary that considers how COVID is affecting medically vulnerable people. Photo supplied

Vancouver Island filmmaker shares pandemic life stories of the immunocompromised

Courtenay double heart-transplant survivor shows how COVID affects the medically vulnerable

Robbie Thompson, pictured at the Canadian Transplant Games, has made a documentary that considers how COVID is affecting medically vulnerable people. Photo supplied
North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)

Personal attacks part of ‘dangerous trend’ says North Island MLA

Protests part of the job, but MLA’s family did not sign up for that job

North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, here receiving a seasonal flu vaccination, says the high vaccination rate at UVic is helping prevent serious illness despite a spike in COVID-19 cases associated with the school. (Courtesy Province of B.C.)

High vaccination rate helped mitigate B.C. university COVID-19 spike: Dr. Henry

Case uptick hasn’t translated into severe illness in University of Victoria community, Henry says

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, here receiving a seasonal flu vaccination, says the high vaccination rate at UVic is helping prevent serious illness despite a spike in COVID-19 cases associated with the school. (Courtesy Province of B.C.)
Matthew Zeleny, applied research technologist, and Kai Anderson, grant worker, from Camosun Innovates, worked on the design, manufacturing and production of colour-coded trays for vials containing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses for children aged 5 to 11. (Photo Courtesy of Camosun College)

Camosun College tray system differentiates kid and adult COVID vaccines

The laser-cut trays are intended to make it easier to distinguish different COVID-19 vaccine doses

Matthew Zeleny, applied research technologist, and Kai Anderson, grant worker, from Camosun Innovates, worked on the design, manufacturing and production of colour-coded trays for vials containing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses for children aged 5 to 11. (Photo Courtesy of Camosun College)
Small businesses in B.C. such as along Bernard Avenue in Kelowna's downtown core will continue to face challenging fiscal times in 2022. (File photo)

Grim 2022 outlook for B.C.’s small business sector

Business sector report calls for more government fiscal help

Small businesses in B.C. such as along Bernard Avenue in Kelowna's downtown core will continue to face challenging fiscal times in 2022. (File photo)
A house on the corner of Queensway Dr. and Mark Ave. south of Terrace on Dec. 17, 2021. Dr. Raina Fumerton, Northern Health chief medical officer for the northwest, said that anti-government attitudes could be a factor in stalling COVID-19 vaccination rates in the health authority. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)

COVID vaccination rates stall out in northern B.C.

Hesitancy, mistrust are among factors at play

A house on the corner of Queensway Dr. and Mark Ave. south of Terrace on Dec. 17, 2021. Dr. Raina Fumerton, Northern Health chief medical officer for the northwest, said that anti-government attitudes could be a factor in stalling COVID-19 vaccination rates in the health authority. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)
The Goldstream Food Bank warehouse is seen in this November photo. Food banks across Greater Victoria are feeling the impacts of supply chain issues exasperated by last month’s flooding, but some have managed to avoid the worst thanks to a mixture of luck and early planning. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Flood damage disrupts supply for Vancouver Island food banks

Some avoided shortages by ordering earlier than usual, while others have had to pivot to gift cards

The Goldstream Food Bank warehouse is seen in this November photo. Food banks across Greater Victoria are feeling the impacts of supply chain issues exasperated by last month’s flooding, but some have managed to avoid the worst thanks to a mixture of luck and early planning. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Omicron variant has been identified in a COVID-19 cluster associated with University of Victoria students. (Photo courtesy of UVic)

UVic COVID-19 cluster climbs to 124, including 4 listed as the Omicron variant

University moved all fall semester exams online Sunday amid rising case numbers

The Omicron variant has been identified in a COVID-19 cluster associated with University of Victoria students. (Photo courtesy of UVic)
The faces of Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix were attached to effigies hung during a vaccine protest event at the B.C. legislature on Dec. 9. (Photo courtesy of Facebook/Anne O’Neil)

‘Unacceptable:’ B.C. attorney general responds after premier, ministers hung in effigy

Actions came at Dec. 9 at vaccine protest rally, VicPD gathering information

The faces of Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix were attached to effigies hung during a vaccine protest event at the B.C. legislature on Dec. 9. (Photo courtesy of Facebook/Anne O’Neil)
The Vancouver Island Regional Library is the fifth largest library system in British Columbia and serves a population of more than 450,000. File photo

Vancouver Island Regional Library mandating vaccines for all employees

The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) is adopting a Vaccination Operational Policy…

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is the fifth largest library system in British Columbia and serves a population of more than 450,000. File photo
North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)

Protesting at elected officials’ homes ‘unacceptable’ — MLA

‘Lines were crossed’ when people protested at North Island MLA’s home

North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)
Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau is moving her constituency office from the Matraea Centre in downtown Duncan to provide a more safe working environment for her staff after a recent protest and other incidents. (File photo)

Green Party leader to move Duncan office after protests raise safety concerns

Sonia Furstenau says she fears for safety and comfort of staff, neighbouring office workers

Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau is moving her constituency office from the Matraea Centre in downtown Duncan to provide a more safe working environment for her staff after a recent protest and other incidents. (File photo)
(Photo: Metro creative stock)

B.C. chiropractor pens motion to regulator to ‘take a stand’ against vaccine mandates

Mark Foullong urged the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia to maintain “medical freedom of choice”

(Photo: Metro creative stock)
People entering Canada need the ArriveCAN app. (Black Press Media File)

CBSA reminds B.C. residents that ArriveCAN app still a requirement

Regardless of how long or short the trip is, ArriveCAN app is still mandatory

People entering Canada need the ArriveCAN app. (Black Press Media File)
Dr. Bonnie Henry. (B.C. government photo)

Masks must be worn at in-person worship services in B.C., Dr. Henry says

Choirs are included in the the face mask order

Dr. Bonnie Henry. (B.C. government photo)
Very few people, if any, lined up at the Peace Arch border to enter the U.S. Tuesday. (B.C. Highway camera)

No wait at B.C. border as PCR test requirement removed for short trips

As of Nov. 30, fully vaccinated Canadians can enter U.S. for less than 72 hours without PCR test

Very few people, if any, lined up at the Peace Arch border to enter the U.S. Tuesday. (B.C. Highway camera)
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