COVID-19 Okanagan

• Penticton joins Kelowna in implementing COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city staff

  The policy is set to take effect on Jan. 4, 2022, to give employees enough time to get fully vaccinated, the city said.

  Health

  Oct 25, 2021
  
• COVID-19: Mandatory staff vaccination policy introduced in Kelowna, but not Vernon

  The City of Kelowna said while COVID-19 cases are down, area hospitals continue to see high levels of hospitalizations, critical care cases, and fatalities.

  Politics

  Oct 22, 2021
  
• Advertisement
• B.C. Interior elementary school reopens after COVID-19 closure

  Sorrento Elementary School temporarily closed for one week due to positive COVID-19 cases and related staffing challenges, but have since reopened.

  Health

  Oct 21, 2021
• Advertisement
• Blue Grotto Nightclub in Kamloops, B.C. warns of COVID-19 exposure after positive cases

  As of Wednesday, Oct. 20, the nightclub says three out of 51 attendees, and four out of 13 band members have tested positive for COVID-19.

  Health

  Oct 20, 2021
• ‘They walked away from health care’: Okanagan care home workers suddenly quit over vaccine mandate

  Hendrik Van Ryk of The Hamlets said the quality of care is declining as residential care workers are stretched thin.

  Health

  Oct 14, 2021
• COVID-19: Trio of major B.C. ski resorts implement vaccine mandate for staff

  Grouse Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb and Big White Ski Resort have all brought in vaccine mandates for their employees.

  Health

  Oct 13, 2021
• Monday marks first day of mask mandate for Okanagan K-3 students

  All students in B.C. schools are now required to wear a mask when inside a school building, including at their desks and on school buses.

  Education

  Oct 4, 2021
• New highly contagious COVID-19 variant identified in B.C. Interior for first time

  It was one of seven new cases of the U.K. variant identified over the weekend in B.C., bringing the total to 14.

  Feb 1, 2021
• Advertisement
• Tax revenue data shows Okanagan hotels hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic

  In Kelowna, hotel tax revenues decreased to $2.2 million from January to October, compared to $3.5 million over the same time period last year.

  Jan 25, 2021
• Advertisement
• COVID-19 outbreaks declared at two long-term care homes in Vernon, B.C.

  Heritage Square and Noric House are the latest long-term care facilities in Interior Health to experience a COVID-19 outbreak.

  Dec 28, 2020