COVID-19

Kelowna General Hospital. (Michael Rodriguez/Capital News)

COVID outbreak declared at Kelowna General Hospital

Interior Health has not yet confirmed how many people have been infected

 

Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addresses delegates during the first day of the 75th World Health Assembly at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, May 22, 2022. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

WHO chief: COVID pandemic is ‘most certainly not over’

‘We lower our guard at our peril’

 

Dozens display signs at the BC Health Care Matters rally on May 19, 2022, at the legislature for World Family Doctor Day. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

B.C. family doctor shortage sparks hundreds to rally in Victoria

Advocates say 1 in 5 people in B.C. lack a general practitioner

 

Vernon Secondary School’s parent advisory committee showed its appreciation to teachers and staff with a special sign, chocolates and engraved wooden hearts for getting students through the pandemic . (Contributed)

Vernon PAC group says thanks to teachers, staff

Vernon Secondary Parent Advisory Committee doles out chocolates, engraved wooden hearts

Vernon Secondary School’s parent advisory committee showed its appreciation to teachers and staff with a special sign, chocolates and engraved wooden hearts for getting students through the pandemic . (Contributed)
(Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom graphic)

Fraser Valley woman has $5,750 COVID violation ticket dropped by Crown

Alberta’s Justice Centre defended ‘Ms. C’ who refused PCR test at U.S. border crossing

(Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom graphic)
In this photo provided by Pfizer, a lab technician visually inspects COVID-19 Paxlovid tablet samples in Freiburg, Germany in December 2021. As more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug. (Pfizer via AP, File)

Rare cases of COVID returning pose questions for Pfizer pill

U.S. government has spent more than $10 billion to purchase pills

In this photo provided by Pfizer, a lab technician visually inspects COVID-19 Paxlovid tablet samples in Freiburg, Germany in December 2021. As more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug. (Pfizer via AP, File)
A rat crosses a Times Square subway platform in New York on Jan. 27, 2015. So far this year, people have called in some 7,100 rat sightings — that’s up from about 5,800 during the same period last year, and up by more than 60% from roughly the first four months of 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Oh, rats! As New Yorkers emerge from pandemic, so do rodents

Through April, people have called in some 7,400 rat sightings

A rat crosses a Times Square subway platform in New York on Jan. 27, 2015. So far this year, people have called in some 7,100 rat sightings — that’s up from about 5,800 during the same period last year, and up by more than 60% from roughly the first four months of 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Parents in Kelowna lack confidence in the vaccination (Metro Creative Graphics Photo)

Majority of B.C. parents vaccinated, but most kids are not

Parents in B.C. say they are wary of mRNA vaccination technology when it comes to their kids

Parents in Kelowna lack confidence in the vaccination (Metro Creative Graphics Photo)
Families embrace after a flight from Los Angeles arrived at Auckland International Airport as New Zealand’s border opened for visa-waiver countries Monday, May 2, 2022. New Zealand welcomed tourists from the U.S., Canada, Britain, Japan and more than 50 other countries for the first time in more than two years as it dropped most of its remaining pandemic border restrictions. (Jed Bradley/New Zealand Herald via AP)

New Zealand welcomes back tourists as COVID-19 pandemic rules eased

Visitors will need to be vaccinated

Families embrace after a flight from Los Angeles arrived at Auckland International Airport as New Zealand’s border opened for visa-waiver countries Monday, May 2, 2022. New Zealand welcomed tourists from the U.S., Canada, Britain, Japan and more than 50 other countries for the first time in more than two years as it dropped most of its remaining pandemic border restrictions. (Jed Bradley/New Zealand Herald via AP)
Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Vaccine policy to remain in place for B.C. Wildfire Service

All B.C. government employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

  • Apr 27, 2022
Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
The most recently released COVID-19 casemap for April 10 to 16. (BC CDC)

Penticton has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases in B.C.

The local health area saw 102 positive cases reported for the week of April 10 to 16

The most recently released COVID-19 casemap for April 10 to 16. (BC CDC)
Haven Hill in Penticton. (Google Maps)

More than 60 COVID-19 cases in 2 Okanagan long-term care facility outbreaks

Westview Place and Haven Hill in Penticton both have outbreaks

Haven Hill in Penticton. (Google Maps)
A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Thursday, April 21, 2022. (File photo)

COVID-19 outbreaks declared at Vernon hospital, long-term care facility

Outbreaks at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and The Hamlets were declared Wednesday and Thursday

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Thursday, April 21, 2022. (File photo)
Travelers wait in a security line at Love Field in Dallas, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The major airlines and many of the busiest airports dropped their mask requirements after a Florida judge struck down the CDC mandate and the Transportation Security Administration announced it wouldn’t enforce its 2021 security directive. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Most people in U.S. want masks for travellers: AP-NORC poll

Polling shows a wide partisan divide on the mask issue

Travelers wait in a security line at Love Field in Dallas, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The major airlines and many of the busiest airports dropped their mask requirements after a Florida judge struck down the CDC mandate and the Transportation Security Administration announced it wouldn’t enforce its 2021 security directive. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Mickey and Minnie Mouse perform during a parade as they pass by the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The theme park resort announced Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, that face coverings will be optional for fully-vaccinated visitors in all indoor and outdoor locations, with one exception. Face masks still will be needed for visitors ages 2 and older on enclosed transportation, such as the resort’s monorail, buses and the resort’s sky gondola. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Walt Disney World in Orlando lifts last of its facemask requirements

Masks now only optional for all areas of resort

Mickey and Minnie Mouse perform during a parade as they pass by the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The theme park resort announced Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, that face coverings will be optional for fully-vaccinated visitors in all indoor and outdoor locations, with one exception. Face masks still will be needed for visitors ages 2 and older on enclosed transportation, such as the resort’s monorail, buses and the resort’s sky gondola. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Everything for Ewe sells wool products like, yarn, sweaters, knitting, crotchet and weaving supplies. (Everything for Ewe/Facebook)

Northern B.C. business fined $5,000 over COVID-19 safety compliance

Northern Health also issued a warning to the business last year over failure to comply with the provincial order for face coverings

Everything for Ewe sells wool products like, yarn, sweaters, knitting, crotchet and weaving supplies. (Everything for Ewe/Facebook)
Kelowna General Hospital (File photo)

COVID-19 outbreak declared at Kelowna General Hospital

The outbreak affects the rehab unit

  • Apr 17, 2022
Kelowna General Hospital (File photo)
Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaking at a press conference update on COVID-19 public health restrictions earlier this year. (Contributed)

Interior Health region on COVID-19 pandemic recovery path

B.C. Southern Interior residents can follow own health precautionary measures

Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaking at a press conference update on COVID-19 public health restrictions earlier this year. (Contributed)
What do we know about ‘stealth omicron’ so far? (AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)

SCIENCE: What do we know about ‘stealth omicron’ so far?

Now the dominant coronavirus version in the U.S.

What do we know about ‘stealth omicron’ so far? (AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)
The Dahl Group of Companies says the end of B.C.’s vaccine passport requirement on Friday, April 8, 2022, is good news for restaurants. (Submitted photo)

Vernon restaurants welcome end to vaccine passports

PHO Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed passports won’t be required to enter indoor spaces starting Friday

The Dahl Group of Companies says the end of B.C.’s vaccine passport requirement on Friday, April 8, 2022, is good news for restaurants. (Submitted photo)