National

Staff at B.C. schools to get rapid tests

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Jan, 2022 06:26 PM

VICTORIA - Schools in British Columbia will soon get rapid antigen tests as a way to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 among staff, including teachers and administrators.

The Education Ministry says 200,000 test kits are being shipped to elementary and high schools in an effort to keep them open.

It says the number of teaching and non-teaching staff will determine how many kits go to each school district as well as independent and First Nation schools.

The ministry says it's working with experts and school districts to improve ventilation systems and additional funding for improvements will soon be made available.

The Health Ministry says 2,150 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in B.C., and 15 more people have died, for a total of 2,520 deaths.

It says 58 facilities, mostly long-term care homes, are experiencing outbreaks, along with at least seven hospitals around the province.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. woman charged after deliberately coughing on grocery clerk: RCMP Tissues and toilet paper aren't worth arrest

A woman is facing criminal charges after RCMP in British Columbia allege she coughed at a grocery clerk who would not let her buy extra tissues. Police say a store in the Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam has set a maximum amount of tissues and toilet paper each customer can buy as the COVID-19 pandemic wears on.

B.C. woman charged after deliberately coughing on grocery clerk: RCMP Tissues and toilet paper aren't worth arrest

Canadians drinking more due to stress, boredom during COVID-19

A study commissioned by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction suggests some Canadians are drinking more alcohol due to boredom and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The poll, conducted by Nanos Research, found 25 per cent of Canadians aged 35 to 54 and 21 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 34 say they have increased the amount of alcohol they drink while spending more time at home.

Canadians drinking more due to stress, boredom during COVID-19

Ferries, orchestra retract layoffs, await subsidy

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and BC Ferries have rescinded lay-off notices in anticipation of receiving the Canadian government's emergency wage subsidies. Both BC Ferries and the symphony had planned layoffs to take effect on the Easter weekend as the COVID-19 pandemic drains away their businesses.

Ferries, orchestra retract layoffs, await subsidy

The Bank of Canada announced that it is holding its interest rate target at 0.25 per cent

The Bank of Canada is warning that the downturn tied to COVID-19 will be the worst on record and that the economic recovery will depend on the effectiveness of current measures to bring the pandemic under control. The bank announced that it is keeping its key interest rate target on hold at 0.25 per cent, saying that it is effectively as low as it can go to combat the economic impacts of COVID-19.

The Bank of Canada announced that it is holding its interest rate target at 0.25 per cent

Liberals ease access to emergency COVID-19 benefit, plan to top-up wages

The federal government is making changes to its COVID-19 programs to send emergency aid to seasonal workers without jobs and those whose hours have been drastically cut but who still have some income. The changes will also allow people who are making up to $1,000 a month to qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, as well as those whose employment insurance benefits have run out since the start of the calendar year.

Liberals ease access to emergency COVID-19 benefit, plan to top-up wages

Canada focused on fighting COVID-19 Trudeau steers clear of WHO controversy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refused Wednesday to join the escalating global debate about the World Health Organization's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, insisting Canada remains focused on working with experts around the world to combat the pandemic. Trudeau repeatedly batted back questions about Donald Trump's plan to halt funding to the UN agency and review what the U.S. president says was a failure to properly assess the threat posed by the novel coronavirus back in January.