Coronavirus

Specimens to be tested for COVID-19 are seen at LifeLabs after being logged upon receipt at the company’s lab in Surrey, B.C., on March 26, 2020. A COVID-19 outbreak at the South Terrace Continuing Care Centre in Edmonton has seen 66 residents contract the infection. Ten have died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. COVID hospitalizations down, ‘second Omicron wave’ may have peaked

540 British Columbians are in hospital with 49 in ICU, down from 596 and 54 last week

 

Specimens to be tested for COVID-19 are seen at LifeLabs after being logged upon receipt at the company’s lab, in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada’s COVID-19 infections among adults tripled in early 2022 due to Omicron: study

Researchers found nearly 30 per cent of Canadian adults were infected during the first Omicron wave

 

Jonah McGarva has been living with long-COVID since becoming infected in March 2020. (Submitted photo)

‘It’s really distressing’: Extensive long COVID symptoms linger, 2 years after infection

As of April 1, 5,288 people in B.C. have been referred to Post COVID-19 clinics for treatment

 

People wait in line to check in at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Thursday, May 12, 2022.The Canadian Airports Council is asking the federal government to do away with COVID-19 protocols at customs to clear up the chaos that international travellers experience when they arrive in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Regular travel and public health measures can’t coexist: Canadian Airport Council

Council wants federal government to do away with random tests and public health questions at customs

People wait in line to check in at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Thursday, May 12, 2022.The Canadian Airports Council is asking the federal government to do away with COVID-19 protocols at customs to clear up the chaos that international travellers experience when they arrive in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
B.C. Library Association executive director Rina Hadziev speaks at the James Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, May 17, 2022. (B.C. government video)

B.C. boosts public libraries with $8M COVID-19 recovery fund

Pandemic shows need for technology, building upgrades

B.C. Library Association executive director Rina Hadziev speaks at the James Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, May 17, 2022. (B.C. government video)
A doctor draws out vaccine during a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont., on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Will B.C. be rolling up its sleeves for a fourth vaccine dose?

Officials still undecided on whether that is a necessary step in province’s pandemic-fighting path

A doctor draws out vaccine during a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont., on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson’s Kootenay Lake Hospital closed to non-essential visitors due to COVID-19

Interior Health has not said how many cases are active at the hospital

Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
A registered nurse takes a moment to look outside while attending to a ventilated COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

B.C. COVID hospitalizations climb to 596 for the first time in months

Latest data from the BCCDC shows hospitalizations on the rise again

A registered nurse takes a moment to look outside while attending to a ventilated COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
(Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom graphic)

Fraser Valley woman has $5,750 COVID violation ticket dropped by Crown

Alberta’s Justice Centre defended ‘Ms. C’ who refused PCR test at U.S. border crossing

(Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom graphic)
Free Reformed Church is seen as people attend Sunday Service, in Chilliwack, B.C., on Sunday, February 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Crown drops COVID charges against Fraser Valley pastors accused of violating public health orders

Fines totalling $55,200 dropped against three Chilliwack pastors

Free Reformed Church is seen as people attend Sunday Service, in Chilliwack, B.C., on Sunday, February 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Fraser Valley Bandits mascot Berry entertains kids at the Maple Ridge COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Maple Ridge, Jan. 18, 2022. (Colleen Flanagan/Maple Ridge News)

Doctors, dieticians most vaccinated among B.C. health professions

Overall COVID-19 coverage 94%, regulating colleges say

Fraser Valley Bandits mascot Berry entertains kids at the Maple Ridge COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Maple Ridge, Jan. 18, 2022. (Colleen Flanagan/Maple Ridge News)
A doctor prepares for a surgical procedure at a hospital in Washington on June 28, 2016. The latest data release by the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows Canadians still struggled with long wait times for surgeries last year compared to the days before COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley

Pandemic ups and downs likely still compounding surgical backlogs across Canada

The ups and downs of pandemic waves continue to affect wait times…

A doctor prepares for a surgical procedure at a hospital in Washington on June 28, 2016. The latest data release by the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows Canadians still struggled with long wait times for surgeries last year compared to the days before COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley
A woman wears a vaccinated sticker after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in Richmond, B.C., April 10, 2021. Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia researchers are trying to increase vaccine uptake by young adults in the province with the release of a new COVID-based game. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. researchers develop game to address vaccine concerns among young adults

COVID Chronicles looks to meet people where they’re at and build trust

A woman wears a vaccinated sticker after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in Richmond, B.C., April 10, 2021. Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia researchers are trying to increase vaccine uptake by young adults in the province with the release of a new COVID-based game. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks during a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Tam says the government is trying to find out how many Canadians are suffering from long-COVID as researchers try to learn more about the prolonged affects of the virus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Public health agency trying to find out how many Canadians struggling with long COVID

Tam: ‘We probably anticipate that the impact of long COVID is going to be quite substantial’

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks during a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Tam says the government is trying to find out how many Canadians are suffering from long-COVID as researchers try to learn more about the prolonged affects of the virus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Los Angeles Kings’ Carl Grundstrom (91) looks on as Edmonton Oilers’ Evander Kane (91), Connor McDavid (97) and Jesse Puljujarvi (13) celebrate a goal during third period NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Oilers take long route from Edmonton to L.A., avoiding COVID-19 testing

NHL team elects to drive over the border in Vancouver on its way to playoff game

Los Angeles Kings’ Carl Grundstrom (91) looks on as Edmonton Oilers’ Evander Kane (91), Connor McDavid (97) and Jesse Puljujarvi (13) celebrate a goal during third period NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Fraser Health operating room, 2000s (Black Press file)

B.C.’s surgical wait list lower than 2020, still 88,000 people

Training staff, buying private clinics expands capacity

Fraser Health operating room, 2000s (Black Press file)
A traveller exits the COVID-19 testing centre for arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, December 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

1,000 pieces of germ-fighting antimicrobial copper installed at YVR to combat COVID

Baggage carts, water fountains and washrooms throughout the terminal now feature the copper

A traveller exits the COVID-19 testing centre for arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, December 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People cross the street in downtown Vancouver, on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. As pandemic restrictions are lifted and cases ease, some companies want workers back in the office five days a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘It won’t change overnight:’ Workers push back as return-to-office plans roll out

Multiple factors can influence how employees respond to the revival of office life

People cross the street in downtown Vancouver, on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. As pandemic restrictions are lifted and cases ease, some companies want workers back in the office five days a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A traffic free Wellington Street is pictured prior to the start of a demonstration, part of a convoy-style protest participants are calling “Rolling Thunder”, in Ottawa, Saturday, April 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Ottawa biker church vandalized as Rolling Thunder rally enters third day

Spray-painted messages included “fascists” and “no haven for fascism”

A traffic free Wellington Street is pictured prior to the start of a demonstration, part of a convoy-style protest participants are calling “Rolling Thunder”, in Ottawa, Saturday, April 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Conservative MP and leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference outside of the Bank of Canada in Ottawa on Thursday, April 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

How the COVID-19 pandemic is shaping who will be the next Conservative party leader

Numerous candidates pushing against mandates, tapping into pandemic angst

Conservative MP and leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference outside of the Bank of Canada in Ottawa on Thursday, April 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang