The RCMP say they've arrested two people after recovering $33,000 worth of government-issued cheques that were allegedly stolen from several places in British Columbia's Lower Mainland. The Mounties in Surrey say the cheques include Canada Emergency Response Benefits, GST cheques and income tax refunds, in addition to cheques issued by other organizations. They were recovered by the RCMP's COVID-19 compliance and enforcement team, which conducts patrols to educate people about and prevent contraventions of public health safety orders. The Mounties say in a statement they recovered the cheques

Vancouver police say they safely detonated a suspected improvised explosive device found in a vehicle in the Downtown East Side. Police say officers found the device during a search of the vehicle after they spotted fentanyl in plain view during a traffic stop last night. Sergeant Aaron Roed says officers secured the area to protect the public and then used a specialized robot and other tools to properly disable and dispose of the device. A 25 year old Surrey resident was arrested for unauthorized possession of an explosive device but has been released with no charges at this time.

Premier John Horgan says his government will announce plans next week to start loosening some restrictions imposed to curtail the spread of COVID-19. He says he's resisted laying out roadmaps as other provinces have done because people assume that's the green light to resume regular activity, but that's not the case. Horgan also says B.C. is better off than other regions because it has allowed construction, agriculture and other industries to continue operating. Despite looking forward to re-opening the economy, his government has extended a provincial state of emergency as he warns the provi

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is reporting four new deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all at long-term care homes for seniors. That brings the provincial death toll to 109. Henry says there have been 34 new cases of COVID-19 for at total of two thousand and 87. She says there have been two new outbreaks at long term care homes, assisted living facilities and acute facilities for seniors, including a new case at a care home where an outbreak had earlier been declared over.

Two more poultry processing plants in British Columbia say they have workers who have tested positive for COVID-19. Sofina Foods Inc. in Port Coquitlam and Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry in Chilliwack say each of their facilities has one worker who has tested positive. Sofina Foods says in a statement its employee lives with relatives who work at another plant that was recently closed after several workers tested positive for COVID-19. The company, which employees over 400 workers, says the plant remains fully operational, and that disinfection protocols and physical distancing measures are

There have been no new long-term care or assisted-living facility outbreaks in B.C. In total, 20 facilities and three acute-care units have active outbreaks, with outbreaks now declared over at 12 care facilities. Public health teams are also providing support to a number of community outbreaks, actively contact tracing those who may be directly affected and their close contacts. As of today, 46 employees have now been confirmed positive at Superior Poultry in Coquitlam, and 34 employees are confirmed positive at United Poultry in Vancouver. There are also 120 inmates and staff confirmed posi

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says, "To date, 1,231 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. Over the past two days, 55 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total to 2,053. Two more people have died, raising the provincial toll to 105. Of the total COVID-19 cases, 94 individuals are currently hospitalized, 37 of those are in intensive care and the remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. Health officials say "Our first priority is to ensure the health of all British Columbians. Every decision, every order and rest

More than 1.2 million dollars has been raised so far in a fundraising campaign by the Vancouver Whitecaps to save the Vancouver Aquarium. The soccer team has been selling face masks featuring logos from the team and aquarium, and the club says they have been sold to buyers in every province. The aquarium, home to 50,000 animals, is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is losing as much as 3.3-million-dollars a month.

A single vehicle crash near Merritt, B.C. has left a baby boy dead and his parents injured. RCMP say the crash happened on Highway 97C near Loon Lake Road on Saturday. Investigators say the sport utility vehicle with the family of three inside left the highway and rolled. The couple's infant son was thrown from the vehicle even though police say the baby was secured in an child seat. Police say both parents were wearing seatbelts and were injured in the crash. While the cause is under investigation, police say there's no evidence to suggest a criminal act contributed to the crash.