COVID-19 outbreaks declared at Victoria, Nanaimo hospitals
Vancouver Island's health authority has declared three new COVID-19 outbreaks, including two outbreaks at hospitals in Nanaimo and Victoria.
Islands Health says nine cases have now been linked to an outbreak at Victoria General Hospital.
The outbreak was identified in a pair of neuromedicine units (6A and 6B) and is believed to be confined to those areas.
"VGH remains a safe place to attend and people should not avoid seeking emergency care, should they need it," Island Health said in a statement Tuesday night.
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is also in the midst of an outbreak, with five cases identified at the hospital. The outbreak is limited to the fifth floor.
Island Health says those who need emergency care should not avoid the Nanaimo hospital due to the outbreak.
A second new outbreak in Nanaimo has been identified at the Nanaimo Seniors Village assisted-living centre.
Two COVID-19 cases have been identified in residents. Island Health says the long-term care portion of the facility has not been affected.
The case numbers reported in all three outbreaks have been confirmed through testing or through contact tracing, Island Health said.
OUTBREAKS DECLARED OVER
Three other COVID-19 outbreaks on Vancouver Island are now considered over.
Island Health says the outbreak at Luther Court long-term care home in Victoria resulted in three resident cases and four staff cases before it was contained.
An outbreak at the Sidney All Care long-term care home in Sidney resulted in one resident case, while a nearby outbreak at the Sidney Care Home long-term care home also resulted in a single case. Both outbreaks are now considered over.
"Staff at these sites are to be commended for their excellent work delivering high quality, compassionate care under challenging circumstances," Island Health said. "Outbreak protocols will now be ended at the sites. Enhanced infection prevention and control measures and monitoring of staff and residents for symptoms will continue."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.