Beginning on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, British Columbia will take the next step in safely bringing people back together, transitioning into Step 2 of BC’s Restart plan, including lifting restrictions on travel within B.C.  “Thanks to our collective efforts and commitment to get vaccinated,...

While hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to decline in BC, the Grand Forks region saw a spike in cases between May 30 and June 5  according to the BC Centre of Disease Control Graphic Distribution map of the province. Grand Forks topped the Kootenay Boundary region with 11 new COVID-19 cases. Cranbrook was next with ...

Interior Health immunization clinics across the region are adding and extending hours for drop-in vaccinations. Drop-in access is for people who are 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) who have not received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. People can arrive, register on the spot, and receive their vaccine. No advance appointments...

Yaqan NuɁkiy (Lower Kootenay Band) announced Monday that it has partnered with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Canadian Border Services Agency, Representatives of the State of Idaho, the United States National Guard and the Ktunaxa Nation Council to hold a drive-through COVID-19 vaccination clinic on June 21. This day is National...

Dr. Réka Gustafson, B.C.’s deputy provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia: “Today, we are reporting that 73.9% of all adults in B.C. and 71.5% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of...

Interior Health’s #journey2immunity has kicked into high gear with the introduction of mobile immunization clinics that will travel across the Interior Health region to target rural and remote communities, and other hard to reach populations.  “We know that the best way to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine is able to...

Care homes and hospice houses throughout the Interior region have been awarded $700,000 in special support through the national ‘LTC+ Acting on Pandemic Learning Together’ program. LTC+ is an initiative by Healthcare Excellence Canada launched to help support the long-term care (LTC) sector to document and share lessons learned...

Preliminary reporting released by the BC Coroners Service confirms at least 176 British Columbians were lost to toxic illicit drugs in April, bringing the total number of deaths recorded in 2021 to 680. “Once again, we’re reminded that the scale of this public health emergency is truly unprecedented,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner. “I offer my […]

The Alzheimer Society of B.C. continues to provide residents of Trail and Rossland affected by dementia with practical tips and information through its regular webinar series. Upcoming June events include sessions on music and dementia, as well as the opportunity to hear directly from people living with dementia as they reflect...

COVID-19 has impacted each of us in many ways. One of the areas that we are monitoring closely is mental health. Mental health affects all of us. As we mark the 70th annual Mental Health Awareness Week I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize the toll that the ongoing pandemic is having on people’s feelings of stress,...