Island Health

At least one case of COVID-19 has been detected at George Jay Elementary in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID-19 reported at three Greater Victoria schools

Total of 11 schools dealing with known cases

At least one case of COVID-19 has been detected at George Jay Elementary in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Cedar Hill Middle School in Saanich is one of three Greater Victoria schools recently added to Island Health’s COVID-19 exposure list. (Black Press Media file photo)

More Greater Victoria schools hit with COVID-19 exposures

Total of 9 schools dealing with known cases

Cedar Hill Middle School in Saanich is one of three Greater Victoria schools recently added to Island Health’s COVID-19 exposure list. (Black Press Media file photo)
North Saanich Middle School is one of three Greater Victoria schools recently hit with COVID-19 cases. (Black Press Media file photo)

3 more Greater Victoria schools hit with COVID-19 cases

Dunsmuir Middle School, North Saanich Middle School, Lighthouse Christian Academy impacted

North Saanich Middle School is one of three Greater Victoria schools recently hit with COVID-19 cases. (Black Press Media file photo)
Students make their way to class at a Greater Victoria elementary school. (Black Press Media file photo)

Limited information, slow contact tracing in schools concerns Greater Victoria parents

Parents continue to crowdsource COVID-19 data in lieu of public information

Students make their way to class at a Greater Victoria elementary school. (Black Press Media file photo)
Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently addressed pandemic concerns during an online meeting with parents of schoolchildren. (Comox Valley Record file photo)

Household and family clusters blamed for surge in North Island COVID-19 cases

North Island Medical Health Officer speaks out on ‘uptick,’ urges vaccination

Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently addressed pandemic concerns during an online meeting with parents of schoolchildren. (Comox Valley Record file photo)
Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is one of the Island Health facilities that has taken in patients from Northern Health over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

Do patient transfers impact Island Health COVID-19 figures? Yes and no, officials say

New case numbers, hospitalizations two different categories

Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is one of the Island Health facilities that has taken in patients from Northern Health over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)
Island Health is launching an international search for Dr. Richard Stanwick’s replacement. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health announces Dr. Richard Stanwick’s retirement at the end of the year

Outgoing chief medical health officer served region for more than 25 years

Island Health is launching an international search for Dr. Richard Stanwick’s replacement. (Black Press Media file photo)
Starting Nov. 9, acute care facility visitors will need to show proof of full vaccination. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health, province to require proof of vaccination for acute care visitors

Children under 12, those with medical exemptions excluded from requirement

Starting Nov. 9, acute care facility visitors will need to show proof of full vaccination. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Capital Regional District is warning of blue-green algae present in the waters of Lower Thetis Lake. (Photo courtesy CRD)

Blue-green algae bloom reported at Lower Thetis Lake in View Royal

CRD advises visitors and their pets to stay clear of water

The Capital Regional District is warning of blue-green algae present in the waters of Lower Thetis Lake. (Photo courtesy CRD)
Annie Taal gets her vaccination for COVID-19. Despite a rare allergic reaction the Victoria woman is happy she received the vaccine. (Courtesy of Island Health)

Victoria woman grateful to be vaccinated despite allergic reaction

About one in 100,000 people will have a severe allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine

Annie Taal gets her vaccination for COVID-19. Despite a rare allergic reaction the Victoria woman is happy she received the vaccine. (Courtesy of Island Health)
Thursday’s total of 114 new cases topped the previous record of 107 new COVID-19 cases for Island Health, set on Oct. 5. (Courtesy of Island Health)

Island Health hits new record for single-day COVID-19 cases

Vancouver Island new caseload nearly doubles previous days in Thursday report

Thursday’s total of 114 new cases topped the previous record of 107 new COVID-19 cases for Island Health, set on Oct. 5. (Courtesy of Island Health)
Dr. Dorothy (Sam) Williams, chief of staff and medical director for West Coast General Hospital, checks out an artist’s rendering of the remodeled emergency department. An official groundbreaking for the $6.2-million expansion took place Oct. 8, 2021, although construction began in September. (PHOTO COURTESY ISLAND HEALTH)

$6.2M expansion at West Coast General Hospital brings improvement to patient care

Plans include seclusion room for people in crisis, separate entrance for ambulances

Dr. Dorothy (Sam) Williams, chief of staff and medical director for West Coast General Hospital, checks out an artist’s rendering of the remodeled emergency department. An official groundbreaking for the $6.2-million expansion took place Oct. 8, 2021, although construction began in September. (PHOTO COURTESY ISLAND HEALTH)
Island Health declared an outbreak that occurred at Victoria Chinatown Care Centre in September is now over. (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID-19 outbreak at Victoria long-term care home declared over

Victoria Chinatown Care Centre saw two cases on Sept. 19, no other cases since

Island Health declared an outbreak that occurred at Victoria Chinatown Care Centre in September is now over. (Black Press Media file photo)
Dr. Prean Armogam has lived and worked in the Town of Port McNeill for the last 15 years. (Dr. Prean Armogam photo)

Veteran doctor says good progress being made in Port McNeill health transition

Dr. Pream Armogam plans to continue working in the community in a reduced role

Dr. Prean Armogam has lived and worked in the Town of Port McNeill for the last 15 years. (Dr. Prean Armogam photo)
Island Health says tents are a far cry from a proper isolation space. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health confirms positive COVID-19 cases among community facing homelessness

Call for the return of proper isolation spaces in hotels and shelters

Island Health says tents are a far cry from a proper isolation space. (Black Press Media file photo)
A Parksville resident was alarmed to find needles left in a forested area near Springwood Elementary School in 2019. (Submitted photo)

Parksville mayor jabs Island Health for needle issue inaction

Mayne tells Island Health officials problem is getting worse

A Parksville resident was alarmed to find needles left in a forested area near Springwood Elementary School in 2019. (Submitted photo)
The province on Tuesday announced that new clinics in Victoria and Nanaimo will aim to better support people with memory loss and those concerned about cognitive changes. (Black Press Media File photo)

Memory clinics opening in Victoria, Nanaimo aim to improve assessment and care

Team of medical workers will support those facing cognitive problems, dementia

The province on Tuesday announced that new clinics in Victoria and Nanaimo will aim to better support people with memory loss and those concerned about cognitive changes. (Black Press Media File photo)
A nurse prepares a vaccine dose at an immunization clinic for long-term care workers in Nanaimo. (Island Health photo)

Vancouver Island breaks record for COVID-19 cases

Island Health reported 102 new cases, 700 active cases on Sept. 17

A nurse prepares a vaccine dose at an immunization clinic for long-term care workers in Nanaimo. (Island Health photo)
A construction worker lifts a piece of plywood onto sawhorses on top of the helipad outside the West Coast General Hospital’s emergency department on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. Work has begun on the $6.25-million emergency department expansion. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Construction begins on West Coast General Hospital expansion

$6.25M expansion will see larger emergency department at Port Alberni’s hospital

A construction worker lifts a piece of plywood onto sawhorses on top of the helipad outside the West Coast General Hospital’s emergency department on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. Work has begun on the $6.25-million emergency department expansion. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Family, friends and supporters gathered for a quiet memorial behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Sept. 1, 2021 to remember Russell Seeber, whose life ended tragically at the same location a few days earlier. A cross has been erected as a physical memorial. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Friends, family remember Port Alberni’s Russell Seeber as ‘lost soul,’ ‘helpful man’

Advocates say Seeber’s death underlines need for 24-hour crisis response

Family, friends and supporters gathered for a quiet memorial behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center on Sept. 1, 2021 to remember Russell Seeber, whose life ended tragically at the same location a few days earlier. A cross has been erected as a physical memorial. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)