Applications for $1,000 B.C. Recovery Benefit will begin soon
A majority of British Columbians will get a lift with the launch of the B.C. Recovery Benefit, enabling many families and individuals to receive the benefit by the end of the year. “As 2020 draws to a close, we look back on a year like no other. British Columbians came together to face the challenge of COVID-19 with resilience...
New collaborative report on First Nations child and youth injuries
VICTORIA, December 8, 2020 – Representative for Children and Youth Jennifer Charlesworth today released a report examining critical injuries and deaths of First Nations children and youth Illuminating Service Experience: A Descriptive Analysis of Injury and Death Reports for First Nations Children and Youth in B.C., 2015...
Interior Health declares outbreak at Village by the Station in Penticton
Interior Health (IH) has declared an outbreak at Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton. One staff member and one resident have tested positive for COVID-19. All individuals in close contact with these individuals are in self-isolation and monitoring for symptoms. IH will continue to monitor the situation, while...
More than five people a day dying from drug toxicity: BC Coroners Service
The BC Coroners Service has published updated reports on illicit drug toxicity deaths and fentanyl-detected drug deaths to Oct. 31, 2020, with 162 illicit drug toxicity deaths reported in October. The latest data equate to five people per day losing their lives to illicit drug overdoses. “This is the fifth month this year...
COVID-19 outbreaks declared at long-term care homes in Kamloops and Penticton
Interior Health is declaring two COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care homes in Kamloops and Penticton. In Penticton, The Village by the Station long-term care home and in Kamloops, units C1 and C2 at The Hamlets at Westsyde long-term care home have both had one staff member test positive for COVID-19, according to IHA press...
Interior Health issues COVID-19 alert
Interior Health is alerting residents throughout the region that surging COVID-19 activity has become a concern. Due to higher rates of COVID-19 being detected, Interior Health is concerned by the upward trend and frequency of new clusters in the region. The provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has issued regional...
IHA expands online lab booking
Interior Health is expanding booking options for lab patients throughout the region. Effective Nov. 9, lab appointments can be booked online or by phone in Castlegar, Trail, Williams Lake, Cranbrook and Merritt. The online booking tool can be found at https://www.labonlinebooking.ca/login Booking appointments online enhances...
Column: From the Hill -- COVID, long-term care, and the National Health Act
I want to start by congratulating all the candidates in the recent provincial election. As I write this, it seems clear that the successful candidates in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay area were incumbents Dan Ashton and Katrine Conroy and newcomer Roly Russell. But I know from experience how difficult it can be to step...
September sees 127 illicit drug overdose deaths in BC
The BC Coroners Service has published updated reports on illicit drug toxicity deaths to the end of September 2020. The following are the key preliminary findings of these reports (data is subject to change): In September 2020, there were 127 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths. This represents a 112% increase over the...
Online booking for COVID-19 tests coming to Interior Health
People across Interior Health will soon have access to new, easier ways to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test with the launch of online booking for all IH COVID-19 Community Collection Centres. Testing is available for those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have been sent for testing by their primary care...
