Cases of COVID-19 are once again on the rise in British Columbia, which means a few things. Firstly, it means that British Columbia is now into its second wave of COVID-19 – this per Dr. Bonnie Henry. It also means that we’re at a very critical time in terms of the approaching winter season and that we once again need to make major changes in terms of how we’re going about our daily lives – whether it’s socially, at school, or at work. In her latest news briefing, Dr. Henry pointed out that many of the latest transmissions of the virus are happening as a result of large gatherings –…

If you’ve noticed an increase in your anxiety levels as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon to struggle during times of uncertainty and change, and you, like many others around the world, may be finding it difficult to cope. While life is uncertain in many different aspects, global pandemics and other world events can cause even greater uncertainty, which ultimately causes even greater anxiety in us than what we might normally be used to. The key is finding healthy, positive ways to cope with that anxiety – and, if you yourself aren’t feeling anxious but know someone who is, then it’s also important to…

Any other year, Halloween would be a time for parties, paying visits to haunted houses, and going trick-or-treating with your friends. However, with Halloween just a few weeks away and COVID-19 still in our midst, many people are wondering exactly how they’re going to be able to safely go about navigating it without putting their health – or the health of others – at risk – and below you will find some helpful guidelines set out by the CDC. Halloween Parties First and foremost, you should skip attending a large Halloween party if you’re invited to one. Big indoor gatherings such as these are not recommended (and are actually prohibited…

At the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak, very little was known about the virus. What was known, however, was that it was a form of coronavirus (the same virus that causes the common cold, for example), which is a respiratory pathogen – and that it was much more serious and also had the potential to be fatal. As it began to rapidly spread on a global scale, countries had to make quick decisions on how they were going to address it head on and what their response would be, with some even having to implement strict lockdown measures in areas where infection rates were at their highest. Things that were…

Whether you have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, it’s important that you isolate and avoid going out in public. That means no going to work, school, or shopping if you’re sick. If you do happen to have a confirmed case of COVID-19, part of the job of our public health officials is to immediately notify anyone you may have encountered during the time in which you were infectious. This means any stores or restaurants you went to, you co-workers, and any friends you might have spent time with, as all of these people will need to isolate and monitor themselves for any potential symptoms of COVID-19 no matter…

Part of Canada’s way of keeping individuals informed and up to date on all the latest COVID-19 news and case numbers in their respective regions is by having Province-wide updates on a daily (or near-daily) basis. Typically, these updates will come from health officers in each Province (for example, here in British Columbia, updates come from our Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, alongside Health Minister Adrian Dix); while they also come from a Federal level, too, with updates from Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, and even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Together, these Provincial and Federal governments provide Canadians with as much pertinent information as possible related…