COVID-19

The MV Coho hasn’t seen a recreational passenger in about 16 months, but has taken voyages every six weeks to remain seaworthy. (Keith Thorpe/Black Press Media)

U.S. ferries cast adrift in border reopening, want clarity on resuming service

Left out of Monday’s reopening, tourism organization considers legal action against feds

The MV Coho hasn’t seen a recreational passenger in about 16 months, but has taken voyages every six weeks to remain seaworthy. (Keith Thorpe/Black Press Media)
Kelowna General Hospital. (Michael Rodriguez/Capital News)

Surgeries bumped in Kelowna due to spike in COVID patients amid outbreak

‘Our hospital is swamped with COVID patients, almost entirely unvaccinated’

Kelowna General Hospital. (Michael Rodriguez/Capital News)
Hope Motorsports Group was able to hold a small event last year, despite COVID-19 concerns, but Brigade Days was cancelled. This year, the Brigade Days committee and Hope Motorsports are working together to bring a post-COVID-19 event to Hope. (Hope Motorsports Group photo)

Hope’s Brigade Days back on the table for this September

Committee announced Tuesday that the popular community event would go ahead

Hope Motorsports Group was able to hold a small event last year, despite COVID-19 concerns, but Brigade Days was cancelled. This year, the Brigade Days committee and Hope Motorsports are working together to bring a post-COVID-19 event to Hope. (Hope Motorsports Group photo)
Holyrood Manor, operated by Rivera Inc., first had three COVID-positive cases when the outbreak was declared. (Priyanka Ketkar/The News)

Nine people at Maple Ridge long-term care home test COVID positive

Fraser Health announced the outbreak on July 18

Holyrood Manor, operated by Rivera Inc., first had three COVID-positive cases when the outbreak was declared. (Priyanka Ketkar/The News)
Abbotsford’s The Rinks at Summit Centre has been listed by Fraser Health for a COVID-19 exposure following a charity hockey tournament. (Facebook photo)

COVID-19 exposure listed in Abbotsford ice rink

Charity hockey tournament over July 23 weekend appears to be cause

Abbotsford’s The Rinks at Summit Centre has been listed by Fraser Health for a COVID-19 exposure following a charity hockey tournament. (Facebook photo)
Boston Bar sign entrance to community. (Emelie Peacock/Hope Standard file)

UPDATE: COVID cases in Boston Bar leads to community program closures

Mobile testing clinic set up at Anderson Creek Clinic for those with symptoms or potential contact

Boston Bar sign entrance to community. (Emelie Peacock/Hope Standard file)
The Central Okanagan seen from the top of Knox Mountain in Kelowna. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press Media file)

Central Okanagan bars, nightclubs ordered to close as COVID-19 cases surge

In the last week, COVID-19 cases tripled in the Central Okanagan, health officials say

The Central Okanagan seen from the top of Knox Mountain in Kelowna. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press Media file)
Abb

Strangers to sisters: Abbotsford neighbours discover they are related

DNA research leads to discovery that acquaintances have the same father

Abb
A blood donor clinic pictured at a shopping mall in Calgary on Friday, March 27, 2020. (Jeff McIntosh/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Blood donations are rebounding from COVID, but there remains a need for more

Canadian Blood Services is in need of more blood donors following the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Aug 5, 2021
A blood donor clinic pictured at a shopping mall in Calgary on Friday, March 27, 2020. (Jeff McIntosh/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
(Black Press file photo)

Health minister urges vaccination as COVID-19 cases rise in B.C. Interior

COVID-19 cases rising in Okanagan, Kootenays as provincial vaccination efforts continue

(Black Press file photo)
Fraser Health registered nurse Kai Kayibadi draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Fraser Health moves to new ‘vaccine hub model’ for COVID-19 shots

Some community clinics closing as health authority sees improvements in vaccination rates

Fraser Health registered nurse Kai Kayibadi draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry will be providing an update on COVID-19 in the Interior Health region on Wednesday, July 28. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Mask mandate returns to Central Okanagan, COVID-19 outbreak declared

The Interior Health region leads recent provincial COVID-19 case counts

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry will be providing an update on COVID-19 in the Interior Health region on Wednesday, July 28. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
Chambers of commerce from across B.C. have endorsed a plan to tackle key social and economic factors impacting cities, which they say will also support businesses attempting to recover from the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Build Back Victoria)

B.C. chambers endorse pandemic-recovery blueprint for cities

Plan calls for addressing mental health, housing and public transit issues

Chambers of commerce from across B.C. have endorsed a plan to tackle key social and economic factors impacting cities, which they say will also support businesses attempting to recover from the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Build Back Victoria)
Victoria food service businesses such as John’s Place restaurant are still seeing patrons wearing masks, despite the lifting of mandatory mask restrictions in B.C. as part of the phase three reopening plan. (Facebook/John’s Place)

Customers still masking up at many B.C. businesses as provincial mask mandate eases

Phase three reopening plan saw change to mask rules, state of emergency declaration July 1

Victoria food service businesses such as John’s Place restaurant are still seeing patrons wearing masks, despite the lifting of mandatory mask restrictions in B.C. as part of the phase three reopening plan. (Facebook/John’s Place)
Premier John Horgan took his old bus route around Greater Victoria, handing out masks to BC Transit passengers in July 2020 as masks became required on transit. (John Horgan/Facebook)

Masks recommended on transit across B.C.

Despite mask requirements lifting July 1, face coverings still recommended on transit

Premier John Horgan took his old bus route around Greater Victoria, handing out masks to BC Transit passengers in July 2020 as masks became required on transit. (John Horgan/Facebook)