Tuesday COVID-19 update
Island Health continues to fare poorly in terms of recent pandemic numbers. 39 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the past 24 hours and one more death. There are 260 active cases currently and so far there have been 23 deaths in our region.
Health orders lay the groundwork for mass vaccination clinics
The Provincial Health officer has issued a new health order, to allow more people to help run the mass vaccination clinics that are being planned for next month. The Provincial Health Office order will allow dentists, pharmacy technicians, paramedics, retired nurses and midwives to either administer vaccines or assist with duties like monitoring people for side effects or assisting elders at the clinics. Dr. Bonnie Henry says plans are underway to set up 172 clinics across the province with up to 500 staff in each health region.
"We are moving forward and doing a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that the systems in our health authorities across the province, we have the tools and resources to take on this incredible and significant task. So we are very excited to be able to have the workforce that we are going to need over the next six months to ensure that we can get vaccine into as many people as wanted as efficiently as possible."—Chief Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Henry says more details about the mass vaccination clinics will be presented next Monday.
Police act needs reforms to protect children and youth
BC's Advocate for Children and Youth is urging the province to change the Police Act to help young people in crisis. Jennifer Charlesworth presented a series of recommendations to an all-party committee that is tasked with reforming BC's 50-year-old Police Act. Charlesworth says young and vulnerable children have frequent contact with police because of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, child neglect, drug addiction and mental health breakdowns, but police are not always equipped to do the best for these children.
“Currently, police are now having to do work that was never envisioned as policing, because other systems are falling short. And not only are systems falling short, but police are not trained or prepared to do the work they're now being called upon to do in a good way. So children and youth who are living with vulnerabilities are experiencing interactions with police at very young ages, and when they may be at their most vulnerable.”—BC's Advocate for Children and Youth, Jennifer Charlesworth.
Charlesworth is asking the committee to involve young people in its consultations. She is also asking that all police be trained in trauma-informed practice and that there be specialized training in child development for officers who have the most contact with children. The all-party committee is expected to present its report and recommendations to the legislature in mid-May.
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Tuesday COVID-19 update
Island Health continues to fare poorly in terms of recent pandemic numbers. 39 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the past 24 hours and one more death. There are 260 active cases currently and so far there have been 23 deaths in our region.
Health orders lay the groundwork for mass vaccination clinics
The Provincial Health officer has issued a new health order, to allow more people to help run the mass vaccination clinics that are being planned for next month. The Provincial Health Office order will allow dentists, pharmacy technicians, paramedics, retired nurses and midwives to either administer vaccines or assist with duties like monitoring people for side effects or assisting elders at the clinics. Dr. Bonnie Henry says plans are underway to set up 172 clinics across the province with up to 500 staff in each health region.
"We are moving forward and doing a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that the systems in our health authorities across the province, we have the tools and resources to take on this incredible and significant task. So we are very excited to be able to have the workforce that we are going to need over the next six months to ensure that we can get vaccine into as many people as wanted as efficiently as possible."—Chief Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Henry says more details about the mass vaccination clinics will be presented next Monday.
Police act needs reforms to protect children and youth
BC's Advocate for Children and Youth is urging the province to change the Police Act to help young people in crisis. Jennifer Charlesworth presented a series of recommendations to an all-party committee that is tasked with reforming BC's 50-year-old Police Act. Charlesworth says young and vulnerable children have frequent contact with police because of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, child neglect, drug addiction and mental health breakdowns, but police are not always equipped to do the best for these children.
“Currently, police are now having to do work that was never envisioned as policing, because other systems are falling short. And not only are systems falling short, but police are not trained or prepared to do the work they're now being called upon to do in a good way. So children and youth who are living with vulnerabilities are experiencing interactions with police at very young ages, and when they may be at their most vulnerable.”—BC's Advocate for Children and Youth, Jennifer Charlesworth.
Charlesworth is asking the committee to involve young people in its consultations. She is also asking that all police be trained in trauma-informed practice and that there be specialized training in child development for officers who have the most contact with children. The all-party committee is expected to present its report and recommendations to the legislature in mid-May.
Dr. Bonnie Henry concerned about the impact of COVID-19 variants
Daily News Update from CHLY 101.7FM
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Dr. Bonnie Henry concerned about the impact of COVID-19 variants
COVID-19 transmission confirmed at three Nanaimo Elementary Schools
On the same day that BC announced increased COVID-19 safety measures in schools, there have been COVID-19 transmissions confirmed at three Nanaimo elementary schools. The clusters are at Rock City, Bayview and Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh schools. The province's new safety measures mean middle school and high school students must now wear masks at all times indoors, except when they are sitting or standing at their desks. But students in elementary schools and those in grades six and seven who attend elementary schools will not have to wear masks. The Nanaimo District Teachers Association says that's just one shortfall of many in the new regulations. Association spokesperson, Jeremy Inscho gives the new measures a failing grade.
"I don't think they're meeting expectations. Very little came in today that is actually helpful. The mask mandate is only for the students who were wearing it anyways in most cases. Doing a little bit more is probably not enough, when we know the virus is doing a lot more."—NDTA Spokesperson, Jeremy Inscho.
Inscho is welcoming the establishment of school response teams to better manage exposures and outbreaks, but he says more rapid testing is needed and communication with teachers, students and their parents must be improved.
Thursday COVID-19 update
There have been 27 new cases of COVID-19 in the Island Health region confirmed over the past 24 hours. Province-wide there were 6 deaths and 465 new cases.
“Overwhelming evidence of racism in this system”
Disturbing data from an investigation into racism in the health care system shows indigenous women are one and a half more times likely to develop cervical cancer. Indigenous elders and those with chronic health conditions are 89% more likely to not have a doctor to help manage those conditions. As a result, indigenous people access health care at emergency departments at rates far higher than anyone else in B.C. The report's author Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond says the data proves an unacceptable truth.
"When you combine these inequities with the overwhelming evidence of racism in this system, it's not difficult to see why health outcomes for indigenous people are poorer.—Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.
B.C.'s Minister of Health says steps are being taken to change that. Adrian Dix says an Assistant Deputy Minister of Indigenous Health has been appointed. Funding is in place for five Indigenous Health Liason Officers and nine of 32 new Indigenous Health Representatives have been hired. And Dix says a Task Force to implement Turpel Lafond's report has been established.
"Racism is toxic for people and it's toxic for care. The situation as it exists, cannot stand. Together with indig leadership, health professionals colleagues and partners we will address systemic racism in our health care system and root out its damaging effects."—Minister of Health Adrian Dix.
Dix is also promising cultural sensitivity training will take place in every health authority. Turpel Lafond says she will continue her involvement until, as she says "the report's recommendations have been achieved."
Daily News Update from CHLY 101.7FM
Tuesday COVID-19 update
Island Health continues to fare poorly in terms of recent pandemic numbers. 39 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the past 24 hours and one more death. There are 260 active cases currently and so far there have been 23 deaths in our region.
Health orders lay the groundwork for mass vaccination clinics
The Provincial Health officer has issued a new health order, to allow more people to help run the mass vaccination clinics that are being planned for next month. The Provincial Health Office order will allow dentists, pharmacy technicians, paramedics, retired nurses and midwives to either administer vaccines or assist with duties like monitoring people for side effects or assisting elders at the clinics. Dr. Bonnie Henry says plans are underway to set up 172 clinics across the province with up to 500 staff in each health region.
"We are moving forward and doing a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that the systems in our health authorities across the province, we have the tools and resources to take on this incredible and significant task. So we are very excited to be able to have the workforce that we are going to need over the next six months to ensure that we can get vaccine into as many people as wanted as efficiently as possible."—Chief Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Henry says more details about the mass vaccination clinics will be presented next Monday.
Police act needs reforms to protect children and youth
BC's Advocate for Children and Youth is urging the province to change the Police Act to help young people in crisis. Jennifer Charlesworth presented a series of recommendations to an all-party committee that is tasked with reforming BC's 50-year-old Police Act. Charlesworth says young and vulnerable children have frequent contact with police because of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, child neglect, drug addiction and mental health breakdowns, but police are not always equipped to do the best for these children.
“Currently, police are now having to do work that was never envisioned as policing, because other systems are falling short. And not only are systems falling short, but police are not trained or prepared to do the work they're now being called upon to do in a good way. So children and youth who are living with vulnerabilities are experiencing interactions with police at very young ages, and when they may be at their most vulnerable.”—BC's Advocate for Children and Youth, Jennifer Charlesworth.
Charlesworth is asking the committee to involve young people in its consultations. She is also asking that all police be trained in trauma-informed practice and that there be specialized training in child development for officers who have the most contact with children. The all-party committee is expected to present its report and recommendations to the legislature in mid-May.
