Skip to Main content

20.7°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

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

canada-eu-to-forge-a-new-strategic-partnership-geneviève-tuts

CanadaSep 09, 2026

Canada-EU to Forge a New Strategic Partnership: Geneviève Tuts

European Union Ambassador to Canada Geneviève Tuts has revealed that the EU and Ottawa are working toward an unprecedented strategic partnership. Her comments come ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s planned address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, next week. Carney has been invited to speak as a non-European leader. According to Tuts, the proposed trade and strategic framework will be part of the broader security and economic alliance Carney highlighted last month. She said the partnership would be distinct from the EU’s existing agreements with countries such as Switz

bc-forestry-sector-urges-urgent-action-writes-to-premier-eby

BC Forestry Sector Urges Urgent Action, Writes to Premier Eby

Major organizations representing British Columbia’s forestry sector have written to Premier David Eby, calling for immediate action to address the growing crisis in the province’s forest industry. The BC Council of Forest Industries, BC Wood and the United Steelworkers jointly sent a letter to the provincial government this month, urging Premier Eby to establish a Forestry Crisis Action Group under his leadership. The groups said B.C.’s forestry sector is at a critical crossroads. While acknowledging that international trade pressures are beyond the direct control of the provincial gover

CanadaSep 09, 2026

Canada Eases Study Rules for Temporary Foreign Workers, Allows Up to 6 Months of Study Without Permit

The Canadian government has announced a temporary measure allowing eligible temporary foreign workers already in the country to study for up to six months without applying for a study permit. The initiative is aimed at helping workers upgrade their skills, obtain short-term training and pursue professional licensing while continuing to work. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the measure will particularly benefit workers in high-demand fields, including nurses, laboratory technicians and skilled tradespeople. The government says the move is intended to help addr

CanadaSep 09, 2026

Tariff War Could Push Up Prices at Canadian Retail Stores

Canadian shoppers could see higher prices at retail stores as the ongoing tariff war begins to affect newly imported goods. However, retailers say the impact may take some time to reach store shelves as businesses first work through inventory purchased before the latest tariffs came into effect. Matt Poirier of the Retail Council of Canada said products with short shelf lives or those that sell quickly are likely to see price increases first. This could be followed by slower-moving items such as ovens and washing machines as retailers replenish their stock with tariff-affected products. Canad

85-year-old-man-killed-by-stray-bullet-in-burnaby-apartment

85-Year-Old Man Killed by Stray Bullet in Burnaby Apartment

An 85-year-old man was killed after being struck by a stray bullet inside his apartment in Burnaby. According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), the body of Chang Yong Cho was found on Aug. 30 inside his apartment in the 7400 block of Kingsway. Police had received reports of a shooting in a nearby block at around 1:30 a.m. Later that day, at approximately 4 p.m., Burnaby RCMP received a call requesting a welfare check at the apartment, where Cho was found dead from a gunshot wound. Investigators said shots were fired during a dispute between a group of young people. One of t

Related News

BC Forestry Sector Urges Urgent Action, Writes to Premier Eby

BC Forestry Sector Urges Urgent Action, Writes to Premier Eby

Major organizations representing British Columbia’s forestry sector have written to Premier David Eby, calling for immediate action to address the growing crisis in the province’s forest industry. The BC Council of Forest Industries, BC Wood and the United Steelworkers jointly sent a letter to the provincial government this month, urging Premier Eby to establish a Forestry Crisis Action Group under his leadership. The groups said B.C.’s forestry sector is at a critical crossroads. While acknowledging that international trade pressures are beyond the direct control of the provincial gover

85-Year-Old Man Killed by Stray Bullet in Burnaby Apartment

85-Year-Old Man Killed by Stray Bullet in Burnaby Apartment

An 85-year-old man was killed after being struck by a stray bullet inside his apartment in Burnaby. According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), the body of Chang Yong Cho was found on Aug. 30 inside his apartment in the 7400 block of Kingsway. Police had received reports of a shooting in a nearby block at around 1:30 a.m. Later that day, at approximately 4 p.m., Burnaby RCMP received a call requesting a welfare check at the apartment, where Cho was found dead from a gunshot wound. Investigators said shots were fired during a dispute between a group of young people. One of t

Delta Election: One Delta School Board Candidate Suraj Uppal Withdraws Candidacy

Delta Election: One Delta School Board Candidate Suraj Uppal Withdraws Candidacy

Suraj Uppal, a school board candidate with the One Delta party in the upcoming Delta municipal election, has withdrawn his candidacy. In a statement posted on social media, Uppal said that sometimes stepping back is the best way to move forward and announced that he was leaving the race for school trustee. Uppal did not provide a specific reason for his decision. However, according to local media reports, several posts had appeared on his social media page last week that were described by some local residents as objectionable. It is being speculated that the controversy surrounding those posts

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital