Third wave slams B.C. hospitals hard as COVID-19 cases swamp critical-care units Bookmark Please log in to listen to this story. Also available in French and Mandarin. Log In Create Free Account
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JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press
B.C. hospitals, faced with record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 patients in critical care, are cancelling surgeries and redeploying health workers.
Hospitals around the province are at capacity and are struggling to meet the needs of a rising number of critically ill patients. That has forced the cancellation of surgeries in the health regions of Vancouver Coastal and Fraser this week, while critical-care nurses are being reassigned to help in those hospitals in Surrey, Abbotsford and New Westminster that are stretched thin.
Government pledges ‘record investments’ in infrastructure, help for people hit hardest by COVID-19.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee's Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria and the author of
All Together Healthy (Douglas & McIntyre, 2018). Find him on Twitter or reach him at
. SHARES Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin’s read speech promising next week’s budget would 'help people now and create the conditions for a strong economic recovery that reaches every British Columbian.'
Image from Hansard.
The throne speech opening the new session of the B.C. legislature today focused on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the province’s response to it and the government’s commitment to building back better.
VANCOUVER -- Another 3,289 cases of COVID-19 and 18 related deaths were recorded over the weekend in British Columbia, which is grappling with its record-breaking third wave of the pandemic. The province has now identified a total of 112,829 coronavirus infections and suffered 1,513 fatalities since the start of the global crisis. Speaking at her COVID-19 briefing on Monday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry once again stressed the importance of following all restrictions and guidelines to keep everyone safe until they can be vaccinated. "It is our collective efforts that have made the difference so far," Henry said. "To get to the end as quickly as possible, there are things we need to do now and that includes staying home, staying in your immediate neighbourhood as much as possible."
VANCOUVER -- The gun salute and honour guard that usually precedes the delivery of the government’s Throne Speech in Victoria has gone to the dogs. Due to the pandemic, the usual pomp and ceremony was gone, but Lt.- Gov. Janet Austin’s canine companion made a special appearance. After being coaxed to the historic stairs, Vice Regal Macduff Austin-Chester climbed up to greet Premier John Horgan, ahead of her honour. All of the adorable antics were caught on camera. Macduff is no stranger to the spotlight. His Instagram account has more than 1,500 followers. He’s described as the “charming and self-confident Vice Regal Canine Consort” to the lieutenant governor.
VANCOUVER -- Firefighers and RCMP members in Surrey and White Rock are being offered early COVID-19 vaccinations due to their cities’ high infection rates. The new program applies to officers and civilian staff at detachments in both cities, as well as firefighters, and comes as a third wave of coronavirus infections grips the province. Sgt. Elenore Sturko said getting the vaccines will mean she is no longer at risk of unknowingly spreading the vaccine to community members or her family. “This is a great morale boost...knowing that the chance of me inadvertently spreading the virus, as a result of the work that I do, is reduced a lot,” she said, just minutes after receiving her COVID-19 shot.