In the eight months since the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the U-S, there have been more than 200-thousand deaths linked to the virus. The grim milestone was confirmed today by Johns Hopkins University, which has been keeping a tally on both deaths and cases of COVID-19 recorded around the world. It is by far the highest confirmed death toll from the virus in the world, with Brazil in second place with 137,272, followed by India with 88,935. But experts say the true number is likely even higher, given thatmany COVID-19 deaths were likely recorded as the result of other causes.

John Horgan and the BC NDP will keep British Columbia moving forward by building on the progress already made in improving health care for people.A re-elected BC NDP government will build ten more urgent and primary care centres by the end of 2021, with a focus on the communities that need them most. Horgan made the commitment alongside North Vancouver-Lonsdale BC NDP candidate Bowinn Ma, a strong advocate for the North Shore Urgent and Primary Care Centre."People want to be able to get the health care they need closer to home, without waiting for hours in an emergency room," said Horgan. "Our

B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson wants three televised debates during the provincial election campaign so voters can hear what each party has to offer. Wilkinson says voters need information and debates are the best way to provide it during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilkinson began the first day of the election campaign for the Oct. 24 election by touting the Liberals' candidates so far, adding he expects to have an entire slate by the end of the week. He highlighted transportation as a big need in Surrey, the fastest-growing city in the province, and says those working in the trucking and t

Rebecca O'Toole, the spouse of federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, has tested positive for COVID-19. The party says she began showing symptoms on Sunday, was tested that night in Ottawa, and her results came back late Monday night.Erin O'Toole tested positive on Friday for the novel coronavirus and has been in isolation. Their two children are being monitored for symptoms. Earlier last week, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet tested positive for COVID-19. He is staying in isolation at his Shawinigan, Quebec home until September 26th. Blanchet's wife, Nancy, also tested positi

Canada has secured a fifth deal to buy vaccines, signing an agreement with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline to buy up to 72-million doses of their experimental vaccine candidate. Federal Procurement Minister Anita Anand says the only way to ensure Canada will get enough doses of a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available is to bet on multiple horses at the same time. Canada has now committed a total of one-billion dollars to buy at least 154-million doses of vaccines from five different companies, with Anand announcing a deal with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline earlier today. Canada has also joined

Evacuation alerts have now been lifted for the only remaining properties in British Columbia still affected by a wildfire. The Regional District of Central Kootenay says it has removed alerts covering 46 properties in the Slocan Valley based on advice from the BC Wildfire Service.Evacuation alerts originally covered 305 properties as a wildfire flared on Aug. 17 about 30 kilometres north of Castlegar.The wildfire service says the lightning-caused blaze covered 13 square kilometres and remained active but rain was expected over the region Wednesday. The wildfire season officially ends Oct. 15

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the response to COVID-19 will not be interrupted by the BC election next month. Dr. Henry says her powers under the Public Health Act are independent and she will be continuing to meet daily with senior health officials. She adds Premier John Horgan did not ask for her advice on an early election call. Dr. Henry says she has been working for months with Elections BC to ensure guidelines are in place for safe elections and details will be released tomorrow. The province is announcing 366 new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days. Dr. Bonnie

The leaders of the Liberal and Green parties in British Columbia are not happy that NDP Premier John Horgan has called a snap election for next month. Andrew Wilkinson criticized Horgan for calling an election that could potentially harm the health of B-C residents during a pandemic. He says the NDP are just trying to secure their own employment. The newly-elected leader of the BC Green Party says Premier John Horgan's decision to call a snap election in the middle of a pandemic is politics at its worst. Sonia Furstenau says the Green Party has worked in good faith with NDP for three years an

Investigators are asking drivers with any dash cam footage in the area of a fatal shooting in Richmond to contact them immediately. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says a 44 year old man died and another was injured in the shooting at the Manzo restaurant on Friday night. IHIT says both victims are well known to police and the shooting is believed to be targeted. But they say there's no evidence to suggest it's connected to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict or any of the other recent acts of violence.