COVID-19

Skiers on the Boomerang Chair at Fernie Alpine Resort. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

High elevation, high numbers: B.C. resort towns report COVID spikes

Resort communities are at more risk, according to Dr. Karin Goodison of Interior Health

Skiers on the Boomerang Chair at Fernie Alpine Resort. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Signs say ‘Mental Health Matters,’ ‘Gyms are Essential,’ and ‘#FreeBC’ (Iron Energy Gym Instagram)

West Kelowna gym ordered to close and fined $2,300 for disobeying COVID restrictions

Interior Health was escorted by RCMP at Iron Energy Gym

Signs say ‘Mental Health Matters,’ ‘Gyms are Essential,’ and ‘#FreeBC’ (Iron Energy Gym Instagram)
Campbell River resident Maryanne Andrew is raising awareness of long COVID and the impact it has on people’s lives. Photo contributed

In for the long haul: B.C. woman says help available for post-COVID-19 sufferers

Medical advice, self-care and time to heal all key to the recovery process

Campbell River resident Maryanne Andrew is raising awareness of long COVID and the impact it has on people’s lives. Photo contributed
A bag of blood is shown at a clinic in Montreal on November 29, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Blood tests show waning immunity that scientists hope Omicron could counter

Canadian task force analyzing extent of immunity offered by Omicron

A bag of blood is shown at a clinic in Montreal on November 29, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
(File Photo)

33 inmates, 18 employees infected in COVID outbreak at Kent Institution

All employees, inmates equipped with masks, CSC says

(File Photo)
Four teams sidelined by COVID protocols. (Twitter)

Penticton Vees postpone games due to COVID-19

Four BCHL teams including Trail have all team activities paused for the next 5 days

Four teams sidelined by COVID protocols. (Twitter)
Penticton-based poet Shane Koyczan released his poem Tomorrow on YouTube speaking a message of hope for what 2022 could bring. (Shane Koyczan photo)

Famed Penticton poet Shane Koyczan offers a dose of hope for 2022

Shane Koyczan releases ‘Tomorrow’ on Youtube where we should ‘stockpile hope like toilet paper’

Penticton-based poet Shane Koyczan released his poem Tomorrow on YouTube speaking a message of hope for what 2022 could bring. (Shane Koyczan photo)
Photo: Trail.ca

City of Trail clarifies vaccine requirements for pool users

Full vaccination against COVID-19 currently refers to two doses.

Photo: Trail.ca
After a two-day hiatus, Pacific Coastal Airlines flights will resume on Jan. 4. (File photo)

Pacific Coastal Airlines temporarily suspends operations amid Omicron outbreak

Flights are set to resume Jan. 4

After a two-day hiatus, Pacific Coastal Airlines flights will resume on Jan. 4. (File photo)
(Manning Park Resort photo)

Manning Park Resort workers report at least 20 cases of COVID-19 among staff

But management says protocols are being followed and sick employees are taken out of workforce

(Manning Park Resort photo)

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

B.C. Seniors’ Advocate Isobel Mackenzie asks every British Columbian to continue to follow the public heath guidelines to protect vulnerable seniors. Photo: B.C. government

B.C. public health guidelines protect vulnerable seniors

Letter from Isobel Mackenzie, B.C. Seniors Advocate

  • Dec 30, 2021
B.C. Seniors’ Advocate Isobel Mackenzie asks every British Columbian to continue to follow the public heath guidelines to protect vulnerable seniors. Photo: B.C. government
Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Silvina Mema. Photo: Submitted

Interior Health; Stay safe as COVID cases rise

Letter from Dr. Silvina Mema

  • Dec 30, 2021
Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Silvina Mema. Photo: Submitted
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)
Hands with protective glove, examining a novel coronavirus covid 19 test tube the result is + positive.

Interior Health updates guidelines for COVID-19 testing

When should you get a COVID-19 test?

Hands with protective glove, examining a novel coronavirus covid 19 test tube the result is + positive.
General public swim and AquaFit are still permitted in the aquatic centre, though booking is required. Photo: Trail.ca

City of Trail responds to changing health orders

Tightened restrictions will stay in effect until at least Jan. 18.

General public swim and AquaFit are still permitted in the aquatic centre, though booking is required. Photo: Trail.ca
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.)
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)