National

Staff at B.C. schools to get rapid tests

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Jan, 2022 06:26 PM

VICTORIA - Schools in British Columbia will soon get rapid antigen tests as a way to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 among staff, including teachers and administrators.

The Education Ministry says 200,000 test kits are being shipped to elementary and high schools in an effort to keep them open.

It says the number of teaching and non-teaching staff will determine how many kits go to each school district as well as independent and First Nation schools.

The ministry says it's working with experts and school districts to improve ventilation systems and additional funding for improvements will soon be made available.

The Health Ministry says 2,150 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in B.C., and 15 more people have died, for a total of 2,520 deaths.

It says 58 facilities, mostly long-term care homes, are experiencing outbreaks, along with at least seven hospitals around the province.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Pandemic causing staffing worries in key sectors

In addition to the health-care sector, police forces in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg are facing similar staffing problems, as is Winnipeg Transit and the fire department in Prince Rupert in northwestern British Columbia.

Pandemic causing staffing worries in key sectors

Tam COVID cases four times as high as third-wave peak

Tam says the average daily case count rose 65 per cent from last week, with an average of close to 42,000 cases being reported daily over the past seven days up to Wednesday.

Tam COVID cases four times as high as third-wave peak

Canadian economy added 55K jobs in December

The Canadian economy added 55,000 jobs in December before COVID-19 cases began spiking at the end of the month, prompting public health restrictions that forced many businesses to close or curtail operations.

Canadian economy added 55K jobs in December

Pediatrician urges parents to have the COVID talk

A pediatrician who has researched COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among parents in Canada, the United States and Israel is urging people concerned about getting their children vaccinated to talk to a health-care provider as the Omicron variant pushes cases to all-time highs.

Pediatrician urges parents to have the COVID talk

Long-term residents left without visits: advocate

British Columbia's seniors advocate is asking the province to designate one person as an essential visitor for every long-term care resident as the facilities move to stem the spread of COVID-19. Isobel Mackenzie says in a news release that the need to limit visitors has left a majority of long-term care residents without visits from loved ones.

Long-term residents left without visits: advocate

3,223 COVID19 cases for Thursday

There are 31,817 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 238,524 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 324 individuals are in hospital and 90 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.