BC seniors can now call 211 hotline for assistance during pandemic

BC seniors needing support during the COVID-19 pandemic can now call 211, an expanded provincial hotline announced today by BC Minister of Health Adrian Dix and seniors’ advocate Isobel Mackenzie.

Mackenzie says the 211 hotline will be made available to pair seniors with volunteers (and vice versa) to ensure the province’s elderly receive the help they need, whether it be with groceries, accessing meds, or a video call check-in.

The 211 line will also be backed up by a website.

“Within a matter of weeks, things have changed drastically for all of us,” explained Mackenzie. “Seniors are most at risk… They are frankly afraid that if they get [sick] they will die.”

Mackenzie emphasized that volunteers looking to help seniors should call 211 for more information.

• See also: 
  • BC government bans secondary reselling of food and supplies
  • TransLink limiting seating capacity on buses by 50% for physical distancing
  • BC Liquor Stores to install Plexiglas barriers at all locations’

Today’s provincial announcement comes after BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth and BC Premier John Horgan announced the province’s next steps in its COVID-19 action plan, including a series of ministerial orders to ensure a co-ordinated response to coronavirus across all levels of government for the duration of the provincial emergency.

Among these orders is a ban on the resale of food, medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and cleaning/essential supplies, as well as restricting quantities of items purchased at point of sale.

More to come…