National

Health authority declares COVID-19 outbreak with 15 cases at Victoria-area hospital

Darpan News Desk, 10 Nov, 2023 02:02 PM

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at a Victoria area hospital.

Island Health says in a statement the outbreak was declared Thursday at the centre unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital, with 15 patients infected and all experiencing mild illness.

The statement comes as new BC Centre for Disease Control data suggest a recent surge in COVID-19 activity in British Columbia appears to be waning, with hospital admissions, deaths and test positivity rates all down sharply.

The CDC says there were 144 new COVID-19 hospitalizations in the week ending Nov. 4, fewer than half the 296 hospitalizations three weeks earlier.

However, there are ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks at Abbotsford Regional and Chilliwack General hospitals in the Fraser Health region.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix are scheduled to provide an update on B.C.'s respiratory illness season and COVID and flu immunization campaigns later today.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Indian-origin physiotherapist charged in connection with sexual assault in Canada

A 53-year-old Indian-origin physiotherapist has been arrested and charged in connection with sexually assaulting a victim at his clinic in Canada's Ontario province, police said. Iraj Daneshvar was arrested after police received information on October 23 that a victim was sexually assaulted during a physiotherapy visit at a clinic in the area of Yonge Street and Centre Street in Richmond Hill.

Indian-origin physiotherapist charged in connection with sexual assault in Canada

Educators 'heartened' as B.C. and Ontario mandate Holocaust education

To combat rising antisemitism, both British Columbia and Ontario announced this week that they would introduce mandatory Holocaust education for high school students, teaching them of the murder of six million Jews and others during the Second World War by Nazi Germany. Holocaust educators are applauding the move.

Educators 'heartened' as B.C. and Ontario mandate Holocaust education

Minister promises changes to temporary visas, but no 'draconian actions'

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he plans to recalibrate the number of people who come to Canada temporarily to make sure the program is sustainable, but details about what measures the government is considering remain unclear. Miller announced his intentions after he tabled the immigration targets for permanent residents Wednesday afternoon.

Minister promises changes to temporary visas, but no 'draconian actions'

Housing supply still outpacing demand in Vancouver market as sales increase

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says the region continues to see an increase in newly listed properties, but sales still lag behind long-term trends. The board says October home sales totalled 1,996, a 3.7 per cent increase from the 1,924 sales recorded the same month last year. But the total was 29.5 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average of 2,832 for October.

Housing supply still outpacing demand in Vancouver market as sales increase

B.C. warns drivers of snow and possible freezing rain in southern Interior

The British Columbia government is warning drivers about a storm bringing snow and possibly freezing rain as it bears down on the province's southern Interior. A statement from the Ministry of Transportation says wintry conditions are expected to last until Thursday afternoon, when a transition to rain is forecast.

B.C. warns drivers of snow and possible freezing rain in southern Interior

B.C. set to table housing law requiring small-scale and multi-unit zoning

The new law would require local governments to update zoning bylaws to permit multi-unit buildings on lots typically used for single-family detached homes. Cities are to allow at least three units on lots up to 280 square metres in size, while at least four units are to be permitted on larger lots, and at least six units will be allowed on larger lots that are close to transit stops with frequent service.