Interior Health resuming temporarily paused services
Interior Health is taking a phased approach to resume services that were temporarily paused last month due to COVID-19. The service adjustments, announced Jan. 18, were implemented to preserve safe and reliable access to patient care across the Interior region. “The Omicron-driven COVID-19 staffing impacts on the health system...
COVID-19 efforts allow easing of restrictions
British Columbia’s provincial health officer is easing COVID-19 restrictions while maintaining key protective measures to support the health and safety of all British Columbians. While keeping the BC Vaccine Card, indoor masking requirements and COVID-19 safety plans in place, the provincial health officer will lift restrictions...
End COVID-19 restrictions, mandates — MP Rob Morrison
Kootenay Columbia MP Rob Morrison is calling on the federal government to re-evaluate COVID-19 restrictions after protests in Ottawa and at Canada/U.S. borders continue to hamper the economy. In a recent newsletter to Kootenay Columbia constituents, Morrison said that “Canadians urgently need a plan to get us out of the...
Demolition work underway at Mount St. Francis building
Interior Health said in an emailed statement that work crews have started the demolition of the former Mount St. Francis hospital in upper Fairview. The hospital building, used in Nelson to care for the elderly for years, is being demolished to make room for the proposed Nelson Health Campus development. “Work is underway...
More rapid tests, ventilation support for K-12 sector
Further pandemic supports are coming for B.C. students and schools, with 300,000 rapid antigen test kits to be delivered in phases. The first phase will be rural and remote school districts for use by students with symptoms of COVID-19. “By making rapid tests available to symptomatic students in rural and remote communities,...
Interior Health encourages families to get their COVID-19 pediatric vaccines by Family Day
Local pediatricians and Interior Health are encouraging families to set a goal this winter: get everyone in your household age five and over vaccinated before Family Day (Feb. 21). “The pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, and we encourage families to make their vaccination plans now to get children immunized as...
BC weekend report shows 4,997 new cases of COVID-19, 1,251 in Interior Health
As of Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, 89.6% (4,465,993) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.6% (4,166,318) have received their second dose. In addition, 92.6% (4,290,753) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 89.9%...
Rapid test kits distributed for symptomatic school staff
This week, 200,000 rapid antigen test kits are being shipped to the kindergarten-to-Grade 12 (K-12) sector for use by staff, teachers and administrators with symptoms of COVID-19. Rapid antigen tests are an additional tool that can be used to support the continuity of learning in schools with the aim to reduce transmission ...
Op/Ed:Families are essential to care in Kootenays
by Jennifer Lyle, CEO, Alzheimer Society of B.C. Amid the surge in cases of the COVID-19 variant Omicron, the Province of B.C. reinstated visitation restrictions for long-term care at the beginning of the new year. Under the current restrictions, residents are theoretically eligible to designate someone as their essential...
Interior Health annnounces temporary service changes at Slocan Community Health Centre
In a media release Thursday, Interior Health said that Slocan Valley residents are advised of the temporarily adjustment of emergency department hours at Slocan Community Health Centre in New Denver beginning today, Jan. 20, 2022. Interior Health said that until further notice, emergency department hours will be 8 a.m. to 8...
