How Red Cross is responding to COVID-19 in British Columbia & Yukon

Red Cross volunteers wearing PPE in a gym, 6 feet apart

Emergency Care Workers provide non-clinical support at the COVID-19 immunization clinic in Duncan, BC.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

As of October 13, Canadian red Cross in British Columbia in Yukon has:

  • Deployed 581 staff and volunteers to provide non-clinical support to 263 sites across British Columbia, including:
    • 16 secondary schools
    • 6 post-secondary institutions
    • 127 communities visited by our mobile clinics
    • The installation of our Pop UP 1 – 2 days Clinics in 76 locations
  • Supported the delivery of 1,084,718 vaccinations in British Columbia
  • Implemented 3 community programs to support community organizations respond to COVID-19
 In the context of COVID-19, the Canadian Red Cross is adapting its practices to continue helping with emergencies and to support the various levels of government as part of their response to the pandemic.
 
Here’s an overview of how the Red Cross in British Columbia and Yukon is supporting people during this challenging time:
 

IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Support to vaccination efforts
At the request of the B.C Ministry of Health and local health authorities, trained Red Cross teams are providing non-clinical support to provincial and local health authorities at vaccination centres and mobile vaccination clinics across British Columbia.
The Canadian Red Cross assisted Tseycum First Nation and Tsartlip First Nation with vaccination efforts.

COVID-19 screening for community organizations

Through the Stop the Spread and Stay Safe! Program, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross is providing eligible community organizations in British Columbia with free, self-administered rapid COVID-19 antigen tests to help ensure they can continue providing critical frontline services while keeping their personnel and communities safe. For more information and to apply, go to redcross.ca/stopthespread.

Support to incoming travellers
The Canadian Red Cross supported the Public Health Agency of Canada to provide care and comfort services to more than 800 returning travelers in Vancouver. Supports could include lodging, food and incidentals for eligible individuals.

Support to Indigenous communities
With funding from Indigenous Services Canada/First Nations Inuit Health Branch, the Canadian Red Cross has launched a Help Desk resource where Indigenous community leadership can access information guidance and training on how to protect their communities from COVID-19. In British Columbia, the Help Desk supported the Victoria Native Friendship Centre with guidance around how to safely reopen their doors to the community following best practices surrounding COVID-19 protocols.
 
Support to long-term care homes
The Canadian Red Cross has supported long-term care homes in the lower mainland at the request of health authorities.  This support included providing additional personnel capacity within the care home, assisting with non-clinical activities to support residents such as setting up virtual visits, organizing, cleaning and sanitizing spaces, as well as organizing and delivering personal protective equipment.
 

IN YUKON

Support to COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and public health
At the request of the Government of Yukon, the Canadian Red Cross sent a team of health human resources personnel to Whitehorse to support activities including COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and public health. Red Cross continues to work alongside the Government of Yukon to determine support for needs as they emerge.
Our B.C. & Yukon Canadian Red Cross teams are continuing to work with communities to prepare and responds to emergencies such as floods and wildfires, with the added considerations of a pandemic.
 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to supporting individuals, families, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as providing disaster relief and recovery to those in Canada or helping other vulnerable people through our domestic programs and services. The best way you can support our work is with a donation now to the Canadian Emergencies & COVID-19 Response Fund.
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

First Aid and CPR courses in your area

Interested in taking a Red Cross First Aid or CPR course? Find a course in your community or online.

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