COVID-19

Island Health has a supply of Pfizer COVID-19 Paxlovid pills, one of two new therapeutic treatments being used for high-risk patients and people not fully vaccinated. The drug was approved by Health Canada on Jan. 17. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Pfizer)

New COVID therapies make a world of difference for Island Health patients

Outpatient clinics in Victoria, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Campbell River offering treatments

Island Health has a supply of Pfizer COVID-19 Paxlovid pills, one of two new therapeutic treatments being used for high-risk patients and people not fully vaccinated. The drug was approved by Health Canada on Jan. 17. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Pfizer)
(Photo - @ubcokanagan Twitter)

UBC drops weekly COVID testing for students and faculty

The weekly testing quietly ended on March 1

(Photo - @ubcokanagan Twitter)
COVID-19 cases have doubled in prisons nationwide in recent months, according to University of Ottawa research. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

COVID cases have doubled in Canadian prisons as uptick in vaccination across prisoners lull

Total of 16,111 prisoners contracted COVID-19 during this wave, 11 deaths

COVID-19 cases have doubled in prisons nationwide in recent months, according to University of Ottawa research. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Iron Energy will not going to comply with the orders in the civil suit from Interior Health (file photo)

West Kelowna gym closes doors after Interior Health files lawsuit over COVID concerns

Iron Energy does not consent to the orders in the civil claim served by Interior Health on Feb. 15

Iron Energy will not going to comply with the orders in the civil suit from Interior Health (file photo)
The first ‘freedom convoy’ in Penticton was Jan. 29. (Logan Lockhart Western News)

Journalist allegedly spat on at COVID protest along Osoyoos border sparks RCMP probe

The anti-government protests were ramped up through South Okanagan Saturday

The first ‘freedom convoy’ in Penticton was Jan. 29. (Logan Lockhart Western News)
Anti-mandate protesters returned to the B.C. legislature Saturday, leading VicPD to warn motorists of traffic disruptions in the downtown core. (Randi Page/Black Press Media)

VicPD warn of downtown traffic disruptions due to protest

Vehicles were seen heading to the B.C. Legislature Saturday to join an anti-mandate demonstration

Anti-mandate protesters returned to the B.C. legislature Saturday, leading VicPD to warn motorists of traffic disruptions in the downtown core. (Randi Page/Black Press Media)
A nurse draws the vaccine into a syringe at the Saskatoon Tribal Council run vaccination clinic inside SaskTel centre in Saskatoon, Sask., on Thursday, April 15, 2021. Saskatchewan has lifted its public health order that required residents to show a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test to enter most businesses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kayle Neis
A nurse draws the vaccine into a syringe at the Saskatoon Tribal Council run vaccination clinic inside SaskTel centre in Saskatoon, Sask., on Thursday, April 15, 2021. Saskatchewan has lifted its public health order that required residents to show a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test to enter most businesses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kayle Neis
The “3rd Lower Mainland Freedom Convoy” arrived in South Surrey Saturday (Feb. 12) after starting in Chilliwack earlier in the morning. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Protesters break through RCMP barricade, block Surrey border crossing

The convoy took off from Chilliwack earlier on Saturday (Feb. 12) for the third week of protest

The “3rd Lower Mainland Freedom Convoy” arrived in South Surrey Saturday (Feb. 12) after starting in Chilliwack earlier in the morning. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Three local restaurants, including Lake Cowichan’s Farm Table Inn, are calling for an end to COVID-19 restrictions in their businesses. Pictured are Farm Table Inn owners George Gates and Evelyn Koops. (Alec Wheeler photo)

Cowichan Valley restaurants call for end of COVID-19 restrictions

Operators say industry has borne an unfair level of onus and responsibility during pandemic

Three local restaurants, including Lake Cowichan’s Farm Table Inn, are calling for an end to COVID-19 restrictions in their businesses. Pictured are Farm Table Inn owners George Gates and Evelyn Koops. (Alec Wheeler photo)
A child is caught between two parents with conflicting opinions on whether they should be vaccinated (Adobe stock)

Kelowna dad loses parental custody until son is vaccinated, judge rules

Parents have polarized opinions on the COVID-19 vaccine

A child is caught between two parents with conflicting opinions on whether they should be vaccinated (Adobe stock)
A police member stands in front of trucks blocking downtown streets as a rally against COVID-19 restrictions, which began as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, continues in Ottawa, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
A police member stands in front of trucks blocking downtown streets as a rally against COVID-19 restrictions, which began as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, continues in Ottawa, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Screenshot of Twitter post of a trucker accused of hit and run of cyclist in Vancouver on Feb. 6, 2022. (Twitter)

VIDEO: Chilliwack trucking company fires driver over cyclist hit-and-run caught on camera

‘We do not support or condone the actions of that driver’

Screenshot of Twitter post of a trucker accused of hit and run of cyclist in Vancouver on Feb. 6, 2022. (Twitter)
Freya Keddie holds a sign at the B.C. legislature to show her support for vaccination, amidst demonstrators against mandates. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Anti-mandate rally met with counter-demonstrators in front of B.C. legislature

Saturday’s counter-demonstration was organized on Reddit, receiving wide support from respondees

Freya Keddie holds a sign at the B.C. legislature to show her support for vaccination, amidst demonstrators against mandates. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
BC School Sports tournaments can now resume after a Feb. 3 decision from the Ministry of Education. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

‘It’s official’: BC School Sports gets green light to resume tournaments

The Ministry of Education initially prevented such events from happening, amid the pandemic

BC School Sports tournaments can now resume after a Feb. 3 decision from the Ministry of Education. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, in Edmonton on Wednesday Nov. 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Kenney set to announce end date of Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccine passport next week

Alberta also to unveil a plan that will see it remove almost all restrictions by month’s end

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, in Edmonton on Wednesday Nov. 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. (File photo: Black Press Media)

B.C. woman sues Ducks Unlimited after being fired over COVID-19 vaccine policy

On Oct. 1, she raised her concerns about the policy and on Oct. 14 she was fired for failing to comply

B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. (File photo: Black Press Media)
A group of vaccine mandate demonstrators make their way up Highway 14 to the Evergreen Centre Wednesday afternoon in response to SD62’s newly announced vaccine requirement. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Demonstrators take to Sooke streets against pandemic-driven mandates

Wednesday event organized in response to impending SD62 staff vaccination/testing requirement

A group of vaccine mandate demonstrators make their way up Highway 14 to the Evergreen Centre Wednesday afternoon in response to SD62’s newly announced vaccine requirement. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Thousands fill the grounds of the B.C. legislature Saturday afternoon for a demonstration against pandemic-related mandates in front of the B.C. Legislature. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Thousands gather at B.C. legislature against pandemic mandates

Saturday’s event was co-organized by We Unite Canada and the Victoria BC Convoy for Freedom

Thousands fill the grounds of the B.C. legislature Saturday afternoon for a demonstration against pandemic-related mandates in front of the B.C. Legislature. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
School District 85 logo

North Island teacher’s union president talks functional closures and why they happen

School District 85 is still struggling to hire teachers in remote and rural areas

School District 85 logo
Late 2021 saw the number of restaurant reservations and take-out orders in B.C. soar like there’d never been a pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

British Columbians were back to restaurants in pre-pandemic numbers in late 2021

Survey finds Labour Day weekend busier than 2019, giving operators optimism for 2022

Late 2021 saw the number of restaurant reservations and take-out orders in B.C. soar like there’d never been a pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)