National

Makeshift COVID hospital to close in Vancouver

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Jul, 2021 03:37 PM

The makeshift hospital at the Vancouver Convention Centre, which was repurposed with COVID-19 overflow beds, is being shut down without ever taking patients.

Vancouver Coastal Health says it has approval from the Health Ministry to close the 271-bed site, one of several alternative care sites established as the threat of COVID-19 loomed last year.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says in a statement it's fortunate the site didn't have to be activated and it's great to see the centre poised to return to its original, vibrant space.

Thanks to everyone who transformed the Van. Convention into an alternate care site. While we did not have to activate the site, your dedication meant that if our hospitals were at capacity, people would have had a safe place to receive health care. https://t.co/VQpUNezQkB
— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) July 13, 2021

The announcement comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations trend downward in B.C. with 66 patients currently being treated, including 14 in intensive care.

There were 33 new COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday, for a total of 145,775 since the pandemic began.

Vancouver Coastal Health says the process to close the makeshift hospital should be complete by Friday, although there are plans to support its remobilization if needed.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Loaded handgun seized following traffic stop

The officer initiated a traffic stop in the 7600-block of King George Boulevard and upon further investigation, a loaded firearm was located on the driver. The vehicle was towed, the driver was arrested and later released on an undertaking as the investigation continues.

Loaded handgun seized following traffic stop

Climate change health costs to balloon: study

The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices says effects on health are likely to be heaviest among those who are already disadvantaged.

Climate change health costs to balloon: study

Unmarked graves damage Canada's global reputation

William Schabas, a professor at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom, said Canada likes to champion itself as a human rights supporter, but the discovery will hurt its reputation and make many people look at its activism with an amount of cynicism.

Unmarked graves damage Canada's global reputation

Freeland disappointed at Air Canada exec bonuses

Air Canada disclosed in its annual proxy circular to shareholders that it gave $10 million in bonuses to people the investor called instrumental to the airline's survival over the past year.

Freeland disappointed at Air Canada exec bonuses

Elderly woman assaulted

A VPD officer was already in the building on another matter and was alerted to the incident by building staff. While trying to arrest him, the suspect bit the officer’s arm and tried to wrestle him to the ground.