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.
Nanaimo City Council approves Health and Housing Task Force recommendations
Daily News Update from CHLY 101.7FM
3 minutes
4 years ago
Nanaimo City Council approves Health and Housing Task Force recommendations
Mayor emphasizes cost will not be borne by the city alone
It's been more than a year in the making, but Nanaimo City Council has approved the recommendations from its Health and Housing Task Force. The plan includes the creation of a funders' table, made up of representatives from groups like BC Housing, Island Health, Vancouver Island University, the City of Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw First Nation and others. Its goal will be to contribute $65 and a half million dollars over five years on housing and health supports for Nanaimo's most vulnerable populations. Mayor Leonard Krog points out the financial burden will not be borne by city taxpayers.
"I want to emphasize, the City of Nanaimo is not budgeting itself $65.5 million dollars, but we are certainly going to ask the levels of government that have the jurisdiction and legal responsibility to step up to the plate and coordinate their spending in a way that effectively uses significant monies that have already been spent and are being spent with not much improvement in sight for a number of our fellow citizens, we estimate over 600, who are without housing in Nanaimo."—City of Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog.
The next step includes the creation of a self-sustaining group, made up of social service agencies, government representatives and others, to implement the Health and Housing Plan and to attract and coordinate the funding for various projects. The chair of the task force and city councillor Don Bonner says he's confident in that model.
"The work that we're going to start out on, cannot be done by one organization alone. And I think that coming out of this task force and this report, we now how the groundwork for a very good partnership, where we will create a made-in-Nanaimo solution to what is afflicting the most vulnerable in our town."—City of Nanaimo Councillor Don Bonner.
The city has set aside $300,000 for this work during 2021. It expects other funders will contribute to what will eventually become a million dollar a year budget for the group.
Winter coats for the homeless
Meanwhile, homeless people in Nanaimo may be feeling a little more comfortable these days, thanks to a donation of winter coats. Dodd's Furniture store on Uplands Drive has collected forty coats so far, and it continues to take donations of gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves. The winter wear is being distributed by the 7-10 club and the Society for Equity, Inclusion and Advocacy. Both groups are also offering warming centres that are open 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday at 489 Wallace and seven days a week at 285 Prideaux.
Vancouver Island Regional Library online services down during upgrades
Online library users will not be able to access services for most of today. The Vancouver Island Regional Library system is undergoing upgrades until 5 p.m. That means library users will not be able to log into their account to place holds, renew items or access any e-resources like the online catalogue. However, library branches will be open for checkouts although there will be no access to public internet computers.
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.
