Evening Update for April 8, 2020

The latest numbers on the COVID-19 pandemic in BC show five more deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the fatality total to 48. The Provincial Health officer says three deaths occurred in long term care homes on the lower mainland. Two others were seniors in hospitals in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions. 45 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in BC since Tuesday. Two of them are in the Island Health region, bringing the total to 81 here and 1336 province-wide.BC Ferries has changed its schedules on routes that serve the Southern Gulf Islands. Starting this Friday, service to Long Harbour on Saltspring Island will be temporarily suspended. Saltspring will continue to be served by two other routes: Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour and Crofton to Vesuvius. The Tsawassen to Southern Gulf Islands routes will be merged into one. As of Friday, the "Salish Raven" will travel between Swartz Bay and Tsawassen with stops at Pender, Mayne and Galiano Islands. Service between Swartz Bay and Saturna, Mayne, Galiano and Pender Islands will be provided by the Queen of Cumberland. Customers with reservations on the old routes will be automatically refunded. To see the new schedules, go to the BC Ferries website, under SGI Temporary Schedule. These changes will remain in effect until June the 2nd. The number of homeless people in Nanaimo has increased by close to 25 percent over the past two years. This year's homeless count reports 425 people living unsheltered in Nanaimo. There were 335 homeless counted in Nanaimo in 2018. The Nanaimo Homeless Coalition says the new numbers underline the urgent need for governments to increase investments and resources in the community, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. BC's Ministry of Housing is in discussions with the Nanaimo, Duncan and Parksville about city-owned properties that could be used to bring people indoors. The Ministry is also in discussions with private hotel owners in these areas to provide other self-isolation spots. The City of Nanaimo has voted to write a letter to the province, offering to take part in a pilot project to provide a safe drug supply to opiate users. Mayor Leonard Krog says he's concerned about the dwindling illegal drug supply in the wake of travel restrictions due to the pandemic. Krog fears desperation will increase street violence and those experiencing drug withdrawal will overwhelm hospitals.Written and reported by Lisa Cordasco. Senior Reporter and News Director for CHLY 101.7FM.Have a tip? Email: [email protected]: @lisacordasco / @chly1017FMFunded in by the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada through Heritage Canada in partnership with the Community Radio Fund of Canada.