Coronavirus

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

COVID outbreak at B.C. hospital results in one death

Four people have been infected since the outbreak was declared Monday, Aug. 28

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry looks on as Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks during a press conference at provincial legislature in Victoria, Aug. 23, 2021. Dix and Henry are confirming the province’s first case of a new COVID-19 variant in the province as of Aug. 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. confirms 1st case of new COVID variant

Province says a person in Fraser Health has been infected with the BA.2.86 variant of Omicron

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry looks on as Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks during a press conference at provincial legislature in Victoria, Aug. 23, 2021. Dix and Henry are confirming the province’s first case of a new COVID-19 variant in the province as of Aug. 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A man walks past the Supreme Court of Canada, Friday, June 16, 2023 in Ottawa. An Alberta woman who tried to take her fight over COVID vaccine rules to the Supreme Court has died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Woman who tried to take COVID transplant fight to Supreme Court dies

Sheila Annette Lewis was diagnosed with a terminal disease in 2018

A man walks past the Supreme Court of Canada, Friday, June 16, 2023 in Ottawa. An Alberta woman who tried to take her fight over COVID vaccine rules to the Supreme Court has died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Visitors and tourists to Parliament Hill stand around the Centennial flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. China lifted a pandemic ban on group tours to several countries, including the United States and Australia, but tourists are still be barred from group visits to Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

China leaves Canada off list of countries approved for group tours

Ottawa’s focus on alleged interference could be tied to exclusion from lifting of pandemic ban

Visitors and tourists to Parliament Hill stand around the Centennial flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. China lifted a pandemic ban on group tours to several countries, including the United States and Australia, but tourists are still be barred from group visits to Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
The Supreme Court of Canada is shrouded in fog in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov 4, 2022. The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal from three British Columbia churches who argued their constitutional rights were violated when provincial restrictions banned indoor religious services during the COVID-19 pandemic.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Highest court refuses to hear B.C. church appeal on COVID-19 ruling

Langley, Chilliwack and Abbotsford churches contesting ban on indoor religious services

The Supreme Court of Canada is shrouded in fog in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov 4, 2022. The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal from three British Columbia churches who argued their constitutional rights were violated when provincial restrictions banned indoor religious services during the COVID-19 pandemic.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
(File Photo)

New invention from UBC Okanagan detects airborne viruses, like COVID

Researchers from UBCO, Michigan State University, create new system to hopefully prevent pandemics

(File Photo)
FILE - This undated, colorized electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, indicated in yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, indicated in blue/pink, cultured in a laboratory. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)

Long COVID struggles persist, new treatment studies bring hope

U.S. investing in research to address brain fog and other long COVID symptoms affecting millions

FILE - This undated, colorized electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, indicated in yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, indicated in blue/pink, cultured in a laboratory. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)
A man displays his COVID-19 rapid test kit after receiving it at a pharmacy in Montreal, Monday, December 20, 2021. The federal government is sitting on a stockpile of 39 million rapid tests and is struggling to get rid of them without chucking them in the trash, an internal Health Canada memo shows. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Feds struggling to get rid of millions of extra COVID-19 rapid tests

At the end of 2021, the government rapidly bought up rapid antigen tests

A man displays his COVID-19 rapid test kit after receiving it at a pharmacy in Montreal, Monday, December 20, 2021. The federal government is sitting on a stockpile of 39 million rapid tests and is struggling to get rid of them without chucking them in the trash, an internal Health Canada memo shows. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A person draws out Moderna vaccine at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Kingston, Ont., Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) says people should get another COVID-19 booster in the fall if it’s been at least six months since their last dose or COVID-19 infection. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Immunization panel recommends Canadians get another fall COVID-19 booster

Shot recommended if it has been more than 6 months since your last

A person draws out Moderna vaccine at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Kingston, Ont., Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) says people should get another COVID-19 booster in the fall if it’s been at least six months since their last dose or COVID-19 infection. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
Wastewater testing can find what COVID-19 variants are present in the community (Pixabay).

Canada to continue testing wastewater for COVID-19 spread

Testing a community’s sewage, also known as wastewater, can determine the presence of COVID-19 in that community

Wastewater testing can find what COVID-19 variants are present in the community (Pixabay).
Leslie Ann Coles poses for a photograph in Toronto on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Coles knew “almost immediately” something was wrong after her COVID-19 infection in January 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canadian researchers find brain inflammation in patients with long COVID

Autopsies of people who died in the midst of severe COVID-19 infection have previously shown they had brain inflammation

Leslie Ann Coles poses for a photograph in Toronto on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Coles knew “almost immediately” something was wrong after her COVID-19 infection in January 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin speaks to members of the media following an acquittal in his case at a Gatineau, Que., courthouse on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. The Military Police watchdog is launching a probe into how investigators handled a historical sexual-assault allegation against a central figure in Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Watchdog to probe how military police handled case against Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin

A Quebec court acquitted Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin last December of one count of sexual assault

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin speaks to members of the media following an acquittal in his case at a Gatineau, Que., courthouse on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. The Military Police watchdog is launching a probe into how investigators handled a historical sexual-assault allegation against a central figure in Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Migrants wait for U.S. authorities, between a barbed-wire barrier and the border fence at the US-Mexico border, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Christian Chavez

‘Chaotic’ down south, concern up north as U.S. ends COVID border, immigration rules

American officials bracing as big changes implemented on either edge

Migrants wait for U.S. authorities, between a barbed-wire barrier and the border fence at the US-Mexico border, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Christian Chavez
The Province of B.C. announced it was relaxing COVID-19 mask regulations earlier in March. (News Bulletin file)

A COVID legacy? When doctors say we should still be masking up

WHO downgraded COVID from a global emergency

The Province of B.C. announced it was relaxing COVID-19 mask regulations earlier in March. (News Bulletin file)
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks to journalists during a press conference about the Global WHO on World Health Day and the 75th anniversary at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday April 6, 2023. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

WHO downgrades COVID pandemic, says it’s no longer emergency

Announcement marks a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks to journalists during a press conference about the Global WHO on World Health Day and the 75th anniversary at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday April 6, 2023. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)
Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. At least 19 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are set to expire by the end of the year in Canada, according to data received by The Canadian Press. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

At least 19 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in Canada set to expire by end of the year

A fall booster shot campaign for the general population is ‘likely’

Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. At least 19 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are set to expire by the end of the year in Canada, according to data received by The Canadian Press. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A health-care worker crosses a covered overhead walkway at a hospital in Montreal, Tuesday, August 17, 2021. In B.C., the human rights commissioner is opposing a provincial decision to end mask mandates in health-care settings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Human rights commissioner opposes end of mask mandate in B.C. health-care settings

Commissioner says move disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations

A health-care worker crosses a covered overhead walkway at a hospital in Montreal, Tuesday, August 17, 2021. In B.C., the human rights commissioner is opposing a provincial decision to end mask mandates in health-care settings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Police tape is shown in Toronto, Tuesday, May 2, 2017. A new poll suggests most Canadians feel they’re less safe now than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, and most think the provincial and federal governments are doing a poor job of addressing crime and public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Poll suggests Canadians feel less safe than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic hit

Nearly two-thirds of those who took the survey said they feel things are worse: Leger

Police tape is shown in Toronto, Tuesday, May 2, 2017. A new poll suggests most Canadians feel they’re less safe now than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, and most think the provincial and federal governments are doing a poor job of addressing crime and public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. lifts proof of vaccination, masking requirements for entering health-care facilities

Public health officer Bonnie Henry said masking will still be necessary in some settings

B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - A woman walks outside of a COVID-19 testing center at the Incheon International Airport In Incheon, South Korea, on Feb. 10, 2023. Officials at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday, April 5, that wastewater surveillance will potentially provide a cheaper and more sustainable tool in the country’s pandemic response. They say it could also improve the detection of other outbreaks, such as influenza, norovirus or drug-resistant bacteria. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

South Korea to test sewage samples for COVID-19

South Korea this month will begin weekly tests of sewage produced by…

FILE - A woman walks outside of a COVID-19 testing center at the Incheon International Airport In Incheon, South Korea, on Feb. 10, 2023. Officials at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday, April 5, that wastewater surveillance will potentially provide a cheaper and more sustainable tool in the country’s pandemic response. They say it could also improve the detection of other outbreaks, such as influenza, norovirus or drug-resistant bacteria. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)