One housing provider is battling 100 COVID-19 cases, while at least 10 are hospitalized with bacterial infection. Jen St. Denis is The Tyee’s Downtown Eastside reporter. Find her on Twitter @JenStDen. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative. SHARES Crowded sidewalks and housing and underlying health conditions have left Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside vulnerable to COVID-19 and other illnesses. Photo by Jesse Winter. The Downtown Eastside is dealing with two serious public health issues — a rise in COVID-19 cases and an outbreak of shigellosis, a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by unsanitary conditions. Announcements, Events & more from Tyee and select partners