Coronavirus

A man holds a 3M N95 respirator. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Woman files human rights complaint over B.C. health authority policy banning N95s

Complaint says policy puts immunocompromised people at risk of COVID infection

 

COVID-19 cases for the week of Jan. 16 to 22. Illustration: B.C. Centre for Disease Control

204 new COVID-19 cases in Nelson area

Nelson has now had 620 cases during January

 

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie head for an update of the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, June 30, 2020. (B.C. government)

13 more COVID-19 deaths in B.C. Thursday, cases still above 2,000

Outbreaks detected at Nanaimo hospital, care home

 

April Lavine, a Nelson substitute teacher, contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Like other subs, she’s not eligible for sick pay. Photo: Submitted

B.C. substitute teachers who catch COVID not eligible for sick day pay

BC Teachers’ Federation president says it will be an issue included in bargaining this year

April Lavine, a Nelson substitute teacher, contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Like other subs, she’s not eligible for sick pay. Photo: Submitted
The front lawn of the Parliament buildings is shown in Ottawa, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Parliament Hill security is preparing for up to 10,000 protesters to set up camp in downtown Ottawa this weekend pushing back against lockdowns and vaccination mandates.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Parliamentary security, police preparing as truckers’ protest convoy nears Ottawa

Up to 10,000 protesters to set up camp in downtown Ottawa this weekend

The front lawn of the Parliament buildings is shown in Ottawa, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Parliament Hill security is preparing for up to 10,000 protesters to set up camp in downtown Ottawa this weekend pushing back against lockdowns and vaccination mandates.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a photo as he greets commuters at a Montreal Metro station on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Justin Trudeau isolating after COVID exposure

Rapid antigen negative, but PM following local public health rules and isolating for five days

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a photo as he greets commuters at a Montreal Metro station on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A man receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster vaccine dose at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021. A new survey suggests a widening gap between the pandemic views of people who have opted to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster and those who are holding steady with only two shots. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Survey reveals widening gap between views of double-vaxxed and boosted people

Leger found 67 per cent of people with a booster dose who responded are afraid of contracting COVID

A man receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster vaccine dose at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021. A new survey suggests a widening gap between the pandemic views of people who have opted to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster and those who are holding steady with only two shots. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Seven-year-old Mabel Limdao is held by her father William as Dr. Kevin Evelyn gives her a COVID-19 vaccine at family clinic in Toronto, Jan. 13 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

21 more deaths, 2,086 more COVID-19 cases in B.C. Wednesday

Outbreaks at Vic General Hospital, four more care homes

Seven-year-old Mabel Limdao is held by her father William as Dr. Kevin Evelyn gives her a COVID-19 vaccine at family clinic in Toronto, Jan. 13 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Subway trains line up in a TTC yard in Toronto on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Canada’s big-city mayors are calling on the federal government’s help to make up huge shortfalls in transit revenue that threaten to derail the nation’s transit systems. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Future of transit at stake, Canada’s big-city mayors say in plea for federal funds

Pandemic has wrought havoc on transit revenues, with people working from home and avoiding crowds

Subway trains line up in a TTC yard in Toronto on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Canada’s big-city mayors are calling on the federal government’s help to make up huge shortfalls in transit revenue that threaten to derail the nation’s transit systems. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Protesters of COVID-19 restrictions, and supporters of Canadian truck drivers protesting the COVID-19 vaccine mandate cheer on a convoy of trucks on their way to Ottawa, on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Winnipeg, Man., Tuesday January 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Police prepare for possible violence as fringe groups latch on to truckers convoy

Police estimate there could be up to 2,000 demonstrators, but the number is shifting quickly

Protesters of COVID-19 restrictions, and supporters of Canadian truck drivers protesting the COVID-19 vaccine mandate cheer on a convoy of trucks on their way to Ottawa, on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Winnipeg, Man., Tuesday January 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski
Paramedics transfer a patient out of their ambulance to the emergency department at Michael Garron Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Monday, January 10, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

COVID infection rates peaking in some provinces, surging in others

Patient died while waiting for care in an Alberta emergency ward

Paramedics transfer a patient out of their ambulance to the emergency department at Michael Garron Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Monday, January 10, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry meets with some of the first children to receive COVID-19 vaccines at a clinic in Victoria, Nov. 29, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Boosters work against Omicron, B.C. kids’ second doses urged

Rapid tests heading for daycares, schools, post-secondary

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry meets with some of the first children to receive COVID-19 vaccines at a clinic in Victoria, Nov. 29, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Creston RCMP say five people were arrested Saturday at a local hockey game. (File photo)

Five arrested for ignoring COVID-19 rules at Creston hockey game

Police removed them from premises when they refused to leave

Creston RCMP say five people were arrested Saturday at a local hockey game. (File photo)
FILE - Pharmacist Sima Manifar prepares a children’s dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at City of Lawrence’s “The Center,” which serves seniors, families and the community, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Lawrence, Mass. Pfizer has begun a study comparing its original COVID-19 vaccine with doses specially tweaked to match the omicron variant. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced the study on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Pfizer begins testing omicron-matched COVID shots in adults

Original vaccines still offer good protection against severe illness and death

FILE - Pharmacist Sima Manifar prepares a children’s dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at City of Lawrence’s “The Center,” which serves seniors, families and the community, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Lawrence, Mass. Pfizer has begun a study comparing its original COVID-19 vaccine with doses specially tweaked to match the omicron variant. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced the study on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
A B.C. COVID-19 testing station on Oct. 8. (Fraser Health photo)

B.C.’s COVID-19 infections level at 1,446 for Tuesday, one death

Hospitalization also stable, up to 144 people in ICU

A B.C. COVID-19 testing station on Oct. 8. (Fraser Health photo)
Fraser Health registered nurse Ramn Manan draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization now recommends immunocompromised kids between the ages of five and 11 be offered a third dose of an mRNA vaccine to protect them against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Kids should get the COVID-19 shot, and an extra for the immunocompromised: NACI

Health advisory committee strengthening its endorsement of vaccination

Fraser Health registered nurse Ramn Manan draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization now recommends immunocompromised kids between the ages of five and 11 be offered a third dose of an mRNA vaccine to protect them against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
There were 307,205 deaths in Canada in 2020, representing a 7.7 per cent increase from 2019. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

StatCan: COVID-19 led to more than half-a-year drop in life expectancy in 2020

National life expectancy was 81.7 years for those born in 2020

There were 307,205 deaths in Canada in 2020, representing a 7.7 per cent increase from 2019. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry described B.C.’s latest COVID-19 analysis and modelling at the B.C. legislature, Jan. 14, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. vaccine card order extended to June 30 as Omicron spreads

Dr. Henry expects it to end earlier as infection rate improves

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry described B.C.’s latest COVID-19 analysis and modelling at the B.C. legislature, Jan. 14, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
Supporters cheered on a procession of trucks on Sunday morning, Jan. 23, as they passed through Langley en route to Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates. (Langley Advance Times file)

GoFundMe says funds for ‘freedom convoy’ of B.C. truckers opposed to vaccine mandates will be ‘safely held’

‘Part of our standard process to ensure the protection of all donors’ spokesperson says

Supporters cheered on a procession of trucks on Sunday morning, Jan. 23, as they passed through Langley en route to Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates. (Langley Advance Times file)
Seven-year-old Mabel Limdao is held by her father William as Dr. Kevin Evelyn of UHN gives her a COVID-19 vaccine at a “Kids and Families Vaccine Clinic” operated by Black Creek Community Health Centre and hosted by Jane and Finch EarlyON child and Family Centre in the Jane and Finch Mall in Toronto. One member of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force says the timing of the Omicron outbreak in Canada may have hurt the uptake of pediatric vaccines to fight the virus, just when kids need them most. (File photo by The Canadian Press)

Kids’ vaccine rate still low despite rampant spread of Omicron variant

In the two months since approval, 51 per cent of kids between 5 and 11 have had at least one dose

Seven-year-old Mabel Limdao is held by her father William as Dr. Kevin Evelyn of UHN gives her a COVID-19 vaccine at a “Kids and Families Vaccine Clinic” operated by Black Creek Community Health Centre and hosted by Jane and Finch EarlyON child and Family Centre in the Jane and Finch Mall in Toronto. One member of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force says the timing of the Omicron outbreak in Canada may have hurt the uptake of pediatric vaccines to fight the virus, just when kids need them most. (File photo by The Canadian Press)