Author

Brishti Basu

Brishti Basu is a reporter based in Victoria. She speaks English, Bengali, and Hindi. She is a generalist that primarily covers social issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as issues relevant to Victoria and Vancouver Island. Basu began her career in journalism as a reporter with Victoria Buzz in 2017, and has been published in places like VICE, The Tyee, National Geographic, BBC Future, and more. Her work so far covers a wide range of topics, from systematic racism to climate change, marine mammal welfare to culinary nomenclature, and beyond.

Healthcare

Some BC hospital patients left vulnerable without COVID, flu tests

By Brishti Basu
Nov 23, 2022

A Langford woman is speaking out after her husband contracted COVID-19 at the hospital but was discharged without diagnosis

Latest News

Victoria drug checking project begins weekly training sessions

By Brishti Basu
Nov 18, 2022

Researchers hope to expand people’s ability to check their street drugs, as the toxic drug supply continues to take more lives in BC

Healthcare

Frontline healthcare workers deny BC’s claim that all patients tested for respiratory illness

By Brishti Basu
Nov 18, 2022

With most people not being tested for what they have, the data presented by the province is incomplete, at best

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Kids' surgeries postponed as respiratory illnesses rise, but no mask mandate in BC

By Brishti Basu
Nov 17, 2022

Health officials shared a breakdown of which viruses are on the rise, but doctor says testing is rare among kids

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Indigenous group in Victoria says passersby were silent during racist attack on Orange Shirt Day

By Brishti Basu
Nov 11, 2022

Members of the Indigenous Harm Reduction Team say orange shirt-clad passersby ignored their calls for help on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Weather

Lack of communication leaves unhoused Victorians out in the snow, despite open warming centre

By Brishti Basu
Nov 9, 2022

The city opened a warming centre Monday night after constant snowfall, but the city’s unhoused say they were not informed about its availability

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‘It’s unprecedented’: ER locum physician shocked to find Island hospital shut down during his shifts

By Brishti Basu
Nov 3, 2022

Closures are a result of dire nursing shortages impacting not just the North Island, but all of BC and Canada

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‘A step in the right direction’: BC announces new payment model for family doctors

By Brishti Basu
Nov 1, 2022

Even opposition party leaders have positive things to say about the move, but raised questions about implementation