3.59°C Vancouver

Jan 26, 2021 1:17 AM -

British Columbia long-term care home report reveals confusion, mixed messaging

Share On
british-columbia-long-term-care-home-report-reveals-confusion-mixed-messaging
Health Minister Adrian Dix looks on as Dr. Bonnie Henry pauses for a moment as she gives her daily media briefing regarding Covid-19 for the province of British Columbia in Victoria, B.C, Monday, December 7, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

A third-party report examining how the British Columbia government responded to COVID-19 in long-term care homes during the first wave of the pandemic reveals confusion over policies and infection prevention.

The report, by Ernst & Young, says specific policy orders from the provincial health officer were interpreted differently by health authorities and there were gaps in infection prevention and control as well as emergency preparedness.

It also highlighted a lack of consistent provincial policy on how health authorities and facility operators handled residents who tested positive for COVID-19.

Ernst & Young did praise the government for its decision to create a health emergency command centre as well as restricting staff from working at multiple long-term care facilities, which it says contributed to stopping the spread of COVID-19 infections in care homes.

But it added that those restrictions also highlighted staffing shortages and other underlying issues.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said last week that his government has implemented all the recommendations in the report and its assessment of the province's actions was "overwhelmingly favourable."

Latest news

three-new-alberta-recall-petitions-target-mlas-as-total-climbs-to-26
AlbertaDec 23, 2025

Three new Alberta recall petitions target MLAs as total climbs to 26

Elections Alberta has approved three additional recall petitions against sitting members of the provincial legislature, bringing the total number of active recall efforts across the province to 26. The latest petitions target two United Conservative Party backbenchers, Ron Wiebe and Justin Wright, along with Opposition New Democrat MLA Peggy Wright, who serves as the party’s labour critic. With the new approvals, 24 of the 26 active petitions are aimed at UCP politicians, representing more than half of Premier Danielle Smith’s 47-member caucus. Petitioners seeking the removal of Wiebe and
IndiaDec 23, 2025

Patiala schools, railway station receive bomb threats; security stepped up

Several schools in Patiala district and the Patiala railway station were placed under heightened security on Tuesday after authorities received bomb threats through email, Punjab Police said. The threat follows similar warnings reported earlier in Amritsar and Jalandhar, raising concerns among parents and local residents. Police teams were immediately deployed to the affected schools and public locations, where thorough search operations were carried out as a precautionary measure. According to officials, the email claimed that explosive devices could detonate between 1:11 pm and 9:11 pm. As a
sooke-rcmp-seek-public-help-to-identify-suspects-in-counterfeit-currency-case
BCDec 23, 2025

Sooke RCMP seek public help to identify suspects in counterfeit currency case

Sooke RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance as they investigate an alleged counterfeit currency transaction at a local gas station earlier this month. Police say two men attended the Chevron gas station at 6610 Sooke Rd. on December 20 shortly after 6:00 p.m., where a counterfeit $100 bill was allegedly used during a transaction. The incident was reported to police two days later, on December 22. The first suspect is described as a Caucasian man between 20 and 30 years old, with brown hair and a beard. At the time, he was wearing a black North Face jacket. The second suspect is also de
ontario-lawyer-linked-to-ryan-wedding-investigation-released-on-bail-ahead-of-extradition-hearing
CanadaDec 23, 2025

Ontario lawyer linked to Ryan Wedding investigation released on bail ahead of extradition hearing

An Ontario lawyer accused by U.S. authorities of assisting a major international drug trafficking network connected to former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been granted bail while awaiting an extradition hearing. Deepak Paradkar, a 62-year-old lawyer from Thornhill, Ont., was arrested last month as part of a cross-border investigation led by the FBI. U.S. prosecutors allege Paradkar played a significant role in supporting Wedding, who is accused of leading a violent criminal organization operating across North America. Court documents allege Paradkar advised Wedding in connection with t
b-c-conservative-leadership-race-aims-to-reset-party-direction-after-internal-turmoil-says-halford
BCDec 23, 2025

B.C. Conservative leadership race aims to reset party direction after internal turmoil, says Halford

The upcoming leadership race for the Conservative Party of B.C. will offer members a chance to present a new vision and rebuild unity after weeks of public turmoil, according to interim leader Trevor Halford. He says the party is focused on moving forward following a rare and highly visible split within its caucus earlier this month. Halford was appointed interim leader on Dec. 3 after the party board removed John Rustad, citing a loss of confidence and describing him as professionally incapacitated. The decision followed months of internal disputes that Conservative MLAs said had hurt fundrai

Related News