British Columbia's top doctor says the first dose of a vaccine for COVID-19 gives "amazing" immunity, so the government's decision to allow for a 35-day gap before the second dose is administered is rooted in science. Dr. Bonnie Henry's statements come as B.C. recorded a grim milestone Monday, reaching 1,000 COVID-19 related deaths. She says the decision to delay the second shot is about maximizing the vaccines' distribution, while balancing the supply and making sure the province has a safe and effective immunization program. Dr. Henry says the first dose primes the immune system while the s

Members of the Vancouver Canucks were back on the ice this morning after concerns about a possible COVID-19 exposure halted practice yesterday. The team says practice resumed at 11 a.m., and a media availability will be held later in the day. Team officials said in a social media post yesterday that practice had been cancelled "due to an abundance of caution" bud didn't say if the possible exposure involved a player or member of the coaching staff. The Canucks and the rest of the NHL launch a COVID-19-shortened 2021 season starting Wednesday. Vancouver would be in Edmonton to take on the Oile

US president-elect Joe Biden has received his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine. It comes three weeks after the 78 year old got his first dose with television cameras rolling in an attempt to reassure the American public. Biden got his first dose of vaccine in December last year. Speaking in Newark, Delaware, Biden says too many people are losing their lives to COVID-19. Biden says his top priority is "getting vaccines in people's arms" as quickly as possible.

A Vancouver police officer has been suspended and is facing charges of theft, breach of trust and drug possession linked to alleged on-duty activities. A statement from the VPD says Constable Neil Logan, who is in his early 40s, is no longer an active member of the department. It says the charges are linked to offences alleged to have occurred in Vancouver between May and October of last year. While a 20 year old associate of Logan also faces trafficking and possession charges. Police say an additional charge of theft and a charge of possession of a controlled substance have also been approve

The latest figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicate that as of Sunday night, there have been 660,289 reported cases of COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic, including 16,950 deaths. There were 84,567 active infections, with a daily average of 7,672 new cases across Canada from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7. During the same period, an average of 4,336 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospital, including 811 in intensive care. The federal agency says COVID-19 is spreading rapidly among all ages groups. Although the infection rate remains highest for people aged 80 and older, w

The US House of Representatives is working swiftly to try to oust President Donald Trump from office. Republicans blocked a resolution introduced this morning calling on Vice President Mike Pence and the federal cabinet to invoke their constitutional authority to remove Trump from office. But the full House is set to hold a roll call vote on that resolution tomorrow, and it's expected to pass. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Pence will have 24 hours to respond before the House proceeds to Plan B, impeachment on a single charge of incitement of insurrection. A vote on that could come Wednesday

Indigenous leaders are encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and start getting COVID-19 vaccines. The encouragement comes as First Nations across Canada start receiving doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Six of 14 Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations on Vancouver Island were priority recipients of doses of Moderna's vaccine last week. Mariah Charleson, vice-president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, says the council employs nurses who are among those administering vaccinations so people see a familiar face they know and trust. She says health officials need to work with communities to ensure the

Officials at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver confirm a COVID-19 outbreak has spread to two more units at its cardiac centre. In a memo to staff, the director of the St. Paul's Hospital Heart Centre says the outbreak declared last week on one unit has spread to a second unit and an intensive care unit. The memo, issued late Sunday on behalf of centre directors Amanda Harvey and Dr. Sean Virani, says the outbreak is on units 5A, 5B and the Cardiac Care Intensive Care Unit. The memo does not say how many patients, staff or visitors may be involved and a spokesman for Providence Health,

Police say one man is dead and another injured after two separate overnight shootings in the Metro Vancouver area.Richmond RCMP say they were called to a home at about 11:50 p.m. on Saturday where a man had reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and later died.Police have identified the deceased as 28-year-old Dilraj Johal.The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says Johal was known to police and they believe he was targeted for murder. Sgt. Frank Jang of IHIT noted in an email statement that Johal's death is the third homicide in the past four days related to an ongoing Lower Mainlan