Coronavirus

Clipper Vacations, which does trips between Seattle and Victoria, has implemented numerous safety protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19. (Clipper Vacations/Facebook)

Clipper ferry between Seattle, Victoria constantly updating safety protocol amid COVID-19 concerns

‘We’re taking every precaution to protect our crews and passengers,’ CEO says

Clipper Vacations, which does trips between Seattle and Victoria, has implemented numerous safety protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19. (Clipper Vacations/Facebook)
B.C. hospitals are cancelling all elective surgeries this week to maximize their ability to accept urgent coronavirus patients. (Black Press files)

B.C. hospitals start cancelling elective surgeries in COVID-19 preparations

Long-term patients also being moved to create more space

B.C. hospitals are cancelling all elective surgeries this week to maximize their ability to accept urgent coronavirus patients. (Black Press files)
Okanagan grocery store manager responds after couple buys entire meat supply

Okanagan grocery store manager responds after couple buys entire meat supply

The incident occurred Saturday night at Save On Foods

Okanagan grocery store manager responds after couple buys entire meat supply
Sidney has restricted public access to all municipal buildings, including Town Hall. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney restricts access to all municipal buildings

Announcement effective since 11 a.m. Monday morning

Sidney has restricted public access to all municipal buildings, including Town Hall. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Photo by LuAnn Hunt on Unsplash

Canadian Blood Services worried about appointment cancellations during pandemic

Agency says it’s still safe to donate blood during COVID-19 crisis

Photo by LuAnn Hunt on Unsplash
FILE – British Columbia provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry listens during a news conference regarding the novel coronavirus COVID-19, in Vancouver, on Saturday, March 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. bans all gatherings of 50+ people to slow COVID-19 transmission

Ban tightens earlier order to reduce to under 250 people

FILE – British Columbia provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry listens during a news conference regarding the novel coronavirus COVID-19, in Vancouver, on Saturday, March 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Sooke School District cancels field trips

Sooke School District cancels field trips

Gatherings of more than 250 on hold

  • Mar 16, 2020
Sooke School District cancels field trips
A trial courtroom at the Provincial Court of B.C., in Vancouver in this undated photo. (Cliff MacArthur/provincialcourt.bc.ca)

COVID-19: B.C. provincial court to reduce operations

Bail hearings to take place by video conference, in custody criminal trials and sentencings continue

A trial courtroom at the Provincial Court of B.C., in Vancouver in this undated photo. (Cliff MacArthur/provincialcourt.bc.ca)
Langford is calling on all indoor public places in the city to close their doors, including Westhills YW/YMCA and all public libraries. (Courtesy of YMCA)

Langford urges closure of Westhills YMCA, all public libraries

City staff recommend 30-day closure, to review again by April 15

Langford is calling on all indoor public places in the city to close their doors, including Westhills YW/YMCA and all public libraries. (Courtesy of YMCA)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry enter one of their daily briefings on the spread of COVID-19 in the province. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

Three more COVID-19 deaths at B.C. care home, as number of cases grows to 103

Six in hospital, rest of B.C. coronavirus patients at home

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry enter one of their daily briefings on the spread of COVID-19 in the province. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
FILE – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a news conference at Rideau cottage in Ottawa, on Friday, March 13, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

Canada to close borders to most foreigners, but not to U.S., to slow spread of COVID-19

More than 300 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada

FILE – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a news conference at Rideau cottage in Ottawa, on Friday, March 13, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
FILE – Patches are seen on the arm and shoulder of a corrections officer in the segregation unit at the Fraser Valley Institution for Women during a media tour, in Abbotsford, B.C., on Thursday October 26, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada’s prisons preparing for COVID-19, want public to limit visits

Experts and prisoner advocates have expressed concerns for the health of the highly vulnerable prisoner population

FILE – Patches are seen on the arm and shoulder of a corrections officer in the segregation unit at the Fraser Valley Institution for Women during a media tour, in Abbotsford, B.C., on Thursday October 26, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Mount Washington announced Monday morning it is not opening due to COVID-19 concerns. Webcam image file photo

Mount Washington shutting in response to COVID-19

Resort announces it will continue to assess the situation as it develops

Mount Washington announced Monday morning it is not opening due to COVID-19 concerns. Webcam image file photo
CFB Esquimalt. (File photo)

CFB Esquimalt pulls non-essential staff, closes base to public due to COVID-19

Only core staff members are permitted on the base

CFB Esquimalt. (File photo)
Signage for Tim Hortons is seen outside a Tim Hortons restaurant in Toronto, Friday, March 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Tim Hortons moving to take-out, drive-thru and delivery only amid COVID-19 fears

Follows similar move by Starbucks

Signage for Tim Hortons is seen outside a Tim Hortons restaurant in Toronto, Friday, March 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2015, file photo, a man rides his bike past the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Many Vegas casinos, hotels shut down amid COVID-19 worries

Some will not take reservations till May 1

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2015, file photo, a man rides his bike past the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey says the economic impacts of COVID-19 will be “devastating.” (Black Press Media file photo) Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey acknowledges declining tourism numbers, but remains bullish about the long-term future of the market. (Black Press File).

Economic impact of COVID-19 on Victoria’s tourism industry will be ‘devastating,’ experts say

Destination Greater Victoria CEO expects losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars

Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey says the economic impacts of COVID-19 will be “devastating.” (Black Press Media file photo) Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey acknowledges declining tourism numbers, but remains bullish about the long-term future of the market. (Black Press File).
Canada Service centre documents that display Employment Insurance options are pictured in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. Newly released research says broad swaths of the Canadian workforce won’t have access to paid leave by their employers or existing federal help should they be forced off the job due to COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Study says few workers have paid leave, qualify for EI if off job due to COVID-19

Experts says federals will likely have to create an emergency benefit for workers who can’t access EI benefits

Canada Service centre documents that display Employment Insurance options are pictured in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. Newly released research says broad swaths of the Canadian workforce won’t have access to paid leave by their employers or existing federal help should they be forced off the job due to COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
(Black Press Media files)

B.C. to shut down all casinos to slow spread of COVID-19

Casinos from Vancouver to Victoria will be shut

(Black Press Media files)
Financial numbers are shown on a television screen in Toronto as markets open for trading on Monday, March 16, 2020. The Toronto S&P/TSX composite index plunges more than 1,500 points at the start of trading. THE CANADIAN PRESS/CP

North American stock markets plunge again, loonie down, commodities fall

The drop in North American stock markets came after markets in Asia and Europe also fell

Financial numbers are shown on a television screen in Toronto as markets open for trading on Monday, March 16, 2020. The Toronto S&P/TSX composite index plunges more than 1,500 points at the start of trading. THE CANADIAN PRESS/CP