Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Réka Gustafson, B.C.'s deputy provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are announcing 80 new cases for a total of 4,825 cases in British Columbia. "There are 780 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,574 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 3,845 people who tested positive have recovered. "Currently, 11 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, four of whom are in int

The Surrey RCMP Robbery Unit has arrested a 16 year old youth for a string of robberies that allegedly involved the use of the online marketplace app, Letgo. The four robberies occurred between March 15, 2020 and June 27, 2020, in Whalley. Each of these incidents took place during daylight hours and were the result of meet ups arranged online for the purpose of buying high-value cellphones. During the encounters, the victims were allegedly sprayed with bear mace and robbed of their cellphones.With the help of witnesses, the Surrey RCMP Robbery Unit identified the suspect and on August 13, 2020

BC Ferries says it sank to a first quarter loss of 62 million dollars due to the impact of COVID-19 on ferry traffic. That compares with a profit of 12.2 million dollars in the April to June period last year. It says revenue was down 109 million dollars as lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 saw ferry traffic plummet at the start of the pandemic. A statement from BC Ferries says ferry traffic dropped 75 to 80 per cent across the system in a matter of days at the outset of the pandemic. The province announced earlier this month that BC Ferries would be included in a 1.08 billi

A Kentucky man could face a fine of up to 750-thousand-dollars or six months in jail for allegedly violating a quarantine order in Banff in late June. John Pennington was initially given a 12-hundred dollar ticket on June 25th after staff at a Banff hotel called the RCMP saying they believed the American citizen was violating the Alberta Public Health Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. R-C-M-P Corporal Tammy Keibel says officers received a call the next day about a car with American plates at a gondola parking lot.

The latest reported potential exposure to COVID-19 in British Columbia was at a bar in Vancouver. The regional health authority says anyone who was at Bartholomew Bar during operating hours on Aug. 13 and 14 should monitor themselves for symptoms. Vancouver Coastal Health says the possible exposures are believed to be low risk. Environmental health officers with Vancouver Coastal have issued closure orders for Pierre's Champagne Lounge and the West Oak Restaurant, while the Ivy Lounge in the Trump Tower closed voluntarily after public exposures to COVID-19. The province reported 68 new cases

British Columbia's ombudsperson says the Education Ministry has agreed to apologize and compensate students harmed by incorrect provincial exam results last year.Jay Chalke says his investigation found the ministry's communication with students and their families to be misleading and in some cases inaccurate even after the errors were identified.The ministry posted more than 18,000 incorrect exam scores, roughly half of which were lower than they should have been.Grade 12 students intending to enter Canadian universities in the fall are often accepted based on marks that only reflect their fir

The federal Liberals are rolling out a $37-billion income-support plan for workers whose earnings have crashed during the pandemic. The details released today outline what will happen to some four million workers receiving the $500 a week Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which is set to wind down starting next month. The CERB will be extended another four weeks, and a new benefit that pays $400 a week for up to 26 weeks will replace it for those ineligible for employment insurance. Anyone eligible for EI will get the same minimum for at least 26 weeks and will need to have worked 120 hours

A five-year-old boy has been killed in an accident involving a group of hikers on a walk east of Vancouver. RCMP in Chilliwack say a tree fell on the group Tuesday as they walked along a trail in Yarrow, 90 kilometres east of Vancouver. A statement from police says the boy had died by the time officers arrived.Cpl. Mike Rail says a 22-year-old woman was also hurt. He says she was treated in hospital for what are described as non-life-threatening injuries. The BC Coroners Service and RCMP are investigating.

A cable barrier was installed along a section of the border between Washington state and Canada in an effort to curb ``dangerous criminal enterprises,'' according to a statement from the U.S. Border Patrol Wednesday.KING-TV reports the U.S.-Canada border has been closed to all non-essential travel since March to help limit the spread of the virus.The section of the border near Lynden, Wash., where the barrier is being constructed, has been used as a meeting place for families and friends during the coronavirus pandemic.The new barrier is designed to prevent vehicles either ``accidentally, or