Island Health, also known as the Vancouver Island Health Authority, is the publicly funded health care provider in the southwestern portion of the Canadian province of British Columbia . It was established as one of five geographically based health authorities in 2001 by the Government of British Columbia.
34-547: Island Health provides health care to over 850,000 people over a geographic area of 56,000 sq km. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia , Island Health had 96 intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 140 ventilators available, including 22 transport ventilators. The region includes the communities of: The largest population center is Greater Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island as
68-559: A group of doctors and dentists operating under the name Masks4Canada published an open letter to Henry, Dix and Horgan requesting the implementation of mask mandates and supporting an educational initiative to increase mask use. They reiterated the call for firmer action one week later. On October 19, Henry declared that British Columbia was in a second wave. On October 30, MLA Adrian Dix announced an amended Provincial Health Officer order, which limits gatherings in private residences to six guests. On October 21, British Columbia declared
102-555: A novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ( SARS-CoV-2 ). On January 28, 2020, British Columbia became the second province to confirm a case of COVID-19 in Canada . The first case of infection involved a patient who had recently returned from Wuhan , Hubei , China. The first case of community transmission in Canada was confirmed in British Columbia on March 5, 2020. British Columbians took numerous emergency measures in an effort to reduce
136-443: A positive test of a staff member. On November 23, the outbreak at Nanaimo General Hospital which was declared on Remembrance Day, was declared over. Over the weekend, Campbell River declared an outbreak at a seniors home. On November 24, the provincial state of emergency, which was declared since March 18, has been renewed 19 times, and resulted in reaching the mark of 8 months. Movie theatres, dance studios, and yoga classes on
170-700: Is a provincial Crown agency responsible for subsidized housing options across the province. The agency was founded in 1967 as the BC Housing Management Authority by Municipal Affairs Minister Daniel Campbell . BC Housing is currently under the Ministry of Attorney General and Minister responsible for Housing and located in Burnaby , British Columbia , Canada . They license residential builders, administer owner builder authorizations and carry out research and education that benefits
204-676: Is not a universal mask mandate in BC, explaining that "[o]rdering universal mask use in all situations creates unnecessary challenges with enforcement and stigmatization." On November 17, Island Health reported the first long-term care home outbreak in Port Alberni at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens. In Victoria , a city hall employee was diagnosed between November 13–16, and began self-isolating shortly after. Additional potential public exposures at Sobeys and Loblaws groceries stores and pharmacies were also reported. The outbreak at Tabor care home in
238-631: Is slated to receive a new $ 33.85-million intensive care unit in 2021. "It will replace what a 2013 Island Health report deemed the 'worst' ICU in Canada." Campbell River and Comox Valley both have new facilities as of 2017. North Island Hospital Campbell River and District provides 95 beds. Island Health's 150 hospitals and health centres include: COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia The COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia formed part of an ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ),
272-839: The BC Housing Management Commission placed a moratorium on evictions from government subsidized housing. British Columbia provided an online self assessment tool for those who are concerned they may be infected. First responders such as police and firefighters began asking screening questions about COVID-19 symptoms prior to attendance, and may have worn additional personal protective equipment upon attendance to residences. Gatherings of over 50 people have been banned, and bars and nightclubs have been ordered to close. Restaurants and cafes were initially permitted to remain open as long as staff were able to maintain physical distance from customers. However, on March 20, provincial health officer Bonnie Henry ordered
306-729: The RCMP fined one church in Langley $ 2,300. The police were called into the Riverside Calvary Chapel "after municipal bylaw officers reported a service was under way". The other churches were in Chilliwack . On December 1, Island Health noted that 135 cases had been added on Vancouver Island in the past week. On December 5, Fraser Health reported two more long-term care home outbreaks in Chilliwack and Coquitlam . BC Housing Management Commission BC Housing
340-546: The BC COVID-19 dashboard is updated from Monday to Friday only. The number of cumulative cases and deaths on Saturdays, if available, are based on daily updates provided to the Government of Canada. The numbers of cumulative cases and deaths on Sundays up to July 5 are calculated based on the surveillance report published next Monday. The numbers of cumulative cases on Sundays from July 12 onwards are calculated based on
374-677: The CRD are the Royal Jubilee Hospital and the Victoria General Hospital , with the smaller Saanich Peninsula Hospital providing service to the Central Saanich and North Saanich municipalities. Saanich Peninsula Hospital "was built in 1974 as an Extended Care facility and has grown to become a full service hospital with 48 acute care beds and 144 extended care beds". Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
SECTION 10
#1732798719808408-759: The Fraser Health region were closed for two weeks after an outbreak and two "clusters" were reported. Fraser Health issued a public exposure notice for Slumber Lodge Motel in Hope November 7–9. British Columbia also introduced new fines for Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health: party buses and limousines spotted on the streets will be issued a $ 2,000 fine plus an additional $ 200 for each participating individual. On November 16, four new care home outbreaks were declared in Surrey, New Westminster and Burnaby . Dr. Bonnie Henry penned an op-ed addressing why there
442-484: The Fraser Valley reached 101 cases. Provincial Health Services Authority President Réka Gustafson stated that children were twice as likely to catch COVID-19 at home than at school or daycare, indicating to Bonnie Henry and colleagues that transmission rates within schools are overestimated. On November 18, Horgan filed "Second Components" to BC's regional COVID-19 orders, hinted at more restrictions, and asked
476-702: The Lynn Valley outbreak resulted in Canada's first death: a man in his 80s with pre-existing health conditions. On March 17, three more deaths were announced: two were at the Lynn Valley Care Center, and the other was "in [a] hospital in the Fraser Health region". On March 19, a death was reported at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, followed by an additional death on March 21. On April 17, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that B.C. had succeeded in reducing
510-518: The city vicinity, several Loblaws grocery stores and pharmacies in the Lower Mainland, including Real Canadian Superstore , Wholesale Club , Shoppers Drug Mart , and T&T Supermarket reported positive tests for COVID-19. Vancouver Coastal Health issued COVID-19 exposure notices for three restaurants in Whistler between October 31 and November 6. On November 14, three schools in
544-493: The closure of all dine-in establishments. On March 21, she ordered all personal service establishments, such as day spas , hair and beauty salons , and tattoo parlours , to close for the foreseeable future. Many cities have closed public playgrounds , including Vancouver, Delta, Coquitlam , Port Coquitlam , and Port Moody . Numerous businesses have voluntarily reduced operating hours or closed physical locations. Many have moved operations to phone and internet. Data in
578-523: The curve enough to allow the province to proceed to phase 3 of the restart plan, allowing the film industry to resume, and a return for in-person education for elementary and high school students in September. Gatherings of people greater than 50 were still prohibited. Entry to stage 4 was conditional on "widespread vaccination, community immunity, or successful treatments"; the national and global numbers of active cases also needed to decline in order for
612-681: The earliest, prohibiting all social interaction outside of immediate household or core-bubbles. Northern Health declared an outbreak at an LNG site after 14 employees were confirmed positive in Kitimat , who were immediately told to self-isolate. The Society of BC Veterinarian announced an increase of "kennel cough" among the dogs in the Lower Mainland that may have been connected to the pandemic. On November 20, Surrey reported 19 school exposures within 24 hours. On November 21, Interior Health declared an outbreak at Orchard Manor in Kelowna over
646-437: The federal government to discourage travel between the provinces amid the increase of COVID-19 cases. On November 19, the BC government issued several new public health orders, including the compulsory wearing of masks in indoor public spaces, and the expansion of the lower mainland specific health orders of November 7 to the entire province. Event, church service and gathering restrictions would be in place until December 7 at
680-728: The first school outbreak at École de l’Anse-au-sable in Kelowna . On October 27, the President of UFCW 1518, Kim Novak, wrote to Henry requesting that she mandate that customers wear masks while shopping at grocery stores. On October 29, Interior Health declared the outbreak at Okanagan Men's Centre in Winfield . On November 5, BC Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender issued a guidance document on human rights considerations surrounding face mask policies. On November 7, Henry announced two-week regional lockdown measures including
714-515: The health orders declared on November 19 . On November 25, CTV News Vancouver reported that the COVID-19 infections in Fraser Health was among the highest per capita in Canada, double the national average. On November 26, eight cases were reported at the BC provincial courthouse in Surrey, though no outbreak was declared. On November 29, three Fraser Valley churches defied an order to "suspend in-person religious gatherings" from Henry, and
SECTION 20
#1732798719808748-402: The mainland suspended their operations again based on the provincial restriction. Burnaby Hospital declared an outbreak that resulted in five deaths and 95 patient and staff infections. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth announced a new order under the (Emergency Program Act) that allows law enforcement officers to issue $ 230 fines to anyone who violates the indoor mask mandate included in
782-690: The majority constituent of the Capital Regional District (CRD; population 383,360 as of the Canada 2016 Census), which also includes some of the southern Gulf Islands. Outside of the CRD, the primary hospital serving the populous lower island is the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, serving Nanaimo and Parksville . The other four metropolitan communities on Vancouver Island which function as centres of primary care are Courtenay , Campbell River , Duncan , and Port Alberni . The main hospitals serving
816-645: The number of cases, the health-care system was not overwhelmed, and that the province had "flattened [the] curve". On April 24, Attorney General David Eby appointed Allan Seckel to chair a Cross-Jurisdictional Technical Advisory Group to assist the provincial court system amidst public health restrictions. On May 13, it was disclosed that while in the quarantine system imposed by the government of British Columbia on international arrivals, eight farm workers out of 1,500 had tested positive for COVID-19 disease. The province started allowing imported farmhands in April and
850-539: The number of daily new cases to surpass 1,000 unless residents alter their behaviours. On November 13, the BC Centre for Disease Control released the October subregional map showing Surrey now has the most COVID-19 cases in British Columbia. Fraser Health also declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Platinum Athletic Club at King George Boulevard , after 42 customers tested positive between October 21 and November 7. In
884-631: The person had travelled from Iran. The person immediately began self-isolation. The first two cases in the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver were reported on March 7. One resident and one staff member were diagnosed, and the centre is thought to be Canada's first case of community transmission. BC's first two cases linked to the Grand Princess were hospitalized and also reported on March 7. On March 9,
918-710: The province to recommend its implementation. Once BC moved to stage 4, conventions, concerts, international tourism, and professional sports would have been allowed. In July 2020 the Provincial Government announced back to school plans for the 2020–21 school year. In August 2020, the Ministry of Health reviewed guidance from the World Health Organization that indicated that younger children were likely not notable vectors of transmission for SARS-CoV-2, and were at significantly lower risk of developing COVID-19 than adults. On August 4,
952-492: The residential construction industry, consumers and the affordable housing sector. Licensing & Consumer Services (Licensing, previously known as the Homeowner Protection Office) is a branch of BC Housing. It is responsible for licensing residential builders and building envelope renovators province-wide; administering Owner Builder Authorizations; and carrying out research and education which benefits
986-475: The restriction of all social gatherings of any size in the Fraser and Vancouver regions to immediate household members only from 10 p.m. until noon of November 23. Other measures restricted travel and group fitness activities. On November 11, Island Health declared first outbreak on Vancouver Island at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. On November 12, Henry shared modelling data that suggests BC could expect
1020-465: The spread of the virus, such as social distancing and self-isolation . On March 23, 2020, British Columbian Premier John Horgan announced the details of the province-wide emergency relief plan, which includes income support, tax relief and direct funding in order to mitigate economic effects of the pandemic . The public health emergency was ultimately ended on July 26, 2024, with all remaining public health orders rescinded. A public health emergency
1054-508: The “New Cases” figure shown in the BC COVID-19 dashboard next Monday. *BC has revised the new case numbers for November 18, 20 and 21 where those are the days the province has topped the mark of 800 in a day. **November 24, where there were 941 new cases, has been revised to 706 cases. ***2021 Easter long weekend revisions on new cases: 1,074 for Friday, 1,077 for Saturday, 999 for Sunday, and 890 for Monday. Notes: The first case in British Columbia
Island Health - Misplaced Pages Continue
1088-551: Was declared in the province on March 17. On June 29, 2021, BC Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth signed Ministerial Order M275 to come into effect at the end of the day on June 30, 2021, ending the province-wide state of emergency since March 18, 2020. Several municipalities in the Metro Vancouver Regional District have declared local states of emergency, including Vancouver , New Westminster , Delta , Surrey , and Richmond . On March 19,
1122-513: Was reported on January 28. The person had returned from Wuhan and began experiencing symptoms on January 26, with self-isolation beginning immediately. The first case in BC's interior was reported on February 14. The person had recently returned from China, and was self-isolating. The first case in the Fraser Health region was reported on February 20. This was also the first BC case where
1156-590: Was the only province to implement mandatory quarantine. On May 19, the government announced that it was advancing to phase 2 of the restart plan, allowing all retail, restaurants, libraries, museums, offices and childcare to reopen. Parks and beaches were also allowed to reopen with social distancing requirements in place. Medically necessary services for physiotherapy, dentistry, massage therapy and chiropractic were also allowed to resume, along with hair salons and counselling services. On June 24, Premier John Horgan and Henry announced that BC had successfully flattened
#807192