Victoria Viewpoints: Thursday, January 6, 2021

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Thursday, January 6, 2021
   

Coronavirus response in BC

COVID-19 affects eight of 20 firefighters in Prince Rupert, BC

BC police, first responders brace for staffing impacts of Omicron surge 

BC confirms 3 deaths, 3,223 new cases as number in hospital, ICU climbs

'We should have the right to exercise':  BC gym owner decries $2,300 COVID fine for staying open

BC hospitalizations could hit 2K to 10K this month amid Omicron surge: data

'Not sustainable': Vernon parents told school contract tracing won't continue

Internal government polling shows sharp shifts in attitude on COVID-19

Critics of COVID-19 vaccines plan protests outside BC media outlets 

The N95 is the mask we all should be wearing. Here's why

Why you should get a 3rd shot even after you've had COVID-19

BC reports 7 more people in hospital with COVID-19, 7 more in the ICU and 3 additional deaths

Why BC's 'essential visitors only' rule means no visitors at all for most seniors in long-term care

Expert hopes BC will shed its dictate for rapid tests 

'I do think this is the tipping point': This wave could be tough but shorter, says Dr. Bonnie Henry

Health-care workers at COVID-19 testing sites intimidated and threatened, officials say

New COVID outbreak declared at Victoria long-term home

Island Health looks to shorten wait times for booster shots with new mass clinics

BC records 3,223 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, more in ICU

COVID-19 test demands lead to threats against BC health staff

Globe and Mail

Tax on homes worth more than $1 million could be key to reducing housing inequality, report says

Snow covers southern BC, rain and freezing rain to come

CBC

Cracks of BC's infrastructure revealed by extreme weather events of past six months

Unshovelled sidewalks isolate people with disabilities, accessibility consultant says

Freezing rain blasts BC's South Coast after overnight snow dump, prompting travel, avalanche warnings

Bankrupt BC catering giant's former employers win right to seek unpaid wages

BC's cold snap could have positive effects going into spring, experts say 

Vancouver Sun 

BC long-term care resident are entitled to a designate visitor: seniors advocate

BC schools brace for possible closures as 550,000 students head back to class              

In a pandemic, why are foreign-trained doctors still on the sidelines?

Weather mayhem across Metro Vancouver due to snow, freezing rain, wind

Victoria Times-Colonist 

Overnight snow closes schools, colleges; almost 20,000 without power

Exodus from cities drives up assessment in small island towns

Canada Post suspends mail delivery on Island due to snowy conditions       

                      

Victoria  News

UVic study shows hate crimes against Asian Canadians increase during pandemic 

Loved ones turned away from BC Senior homes, advocate says

Global

BC South Coast gets classic west coast winter storm as two air masses 'battle it out'

Seniors surprised by rental rates at new 'affordable housing' building in Nanaimo 

Seniors' advocate says BC must ensure all long-term care residents have an essential visitor 

Burnaby RCMP stop hundreds of drivers with dangerously snow-covered vehicles 

Georgia Straight

New left-wing Vancouver party raises prospect of defunding, detaching and disarming the Vancouver Police Department

'Thin little red house' on regular Vancouver lot gets new owner for $2,642,000

4 Vancouver homes listed as land assembly for Cambie Corridor project sold nearly $16 millio

The Tyee

Canada's new$40-Billion Child Welfare Agreements Explained

Why I'nm not leaving Alberta

Waiting for COVID Test results, My kid and I founded a farm

Miscellaneous

BC Long term care residents are entitled to a designated visitor: seniors advocate

Snow covers southern BC, rain and freezing rain to come, as cold still grips north

Would as surtax on $1 million houses stall home prices? This UBC professor thinks so