BCJul 17, 2020
Newborn care unit at Vancouver hospital shut down by COVID-19 outbreak
A newborn intensive care unit at a Vancouver hospital is the site of the latest COVID-19 outbreak in the city.Vancouver Coastal Health, which administers health care services for much of Greater Vancouver region and the inner south and central coasts, issued a notice about the outbreak Thursday.The outbreak covers the neo-natal intensive care unit at St. Paul's hospital in downtown Vancouver.The agency did not say if the outbreak is related to staff or patients at the unit, or how many cases have been reported.Officials with the health authority say a satellite unit has been set up to continu
BCJul 17, 2020
B.C. to get $2.2B in COVID-19 support, Horgan celebrates paid sick leave program
Premier John Horgan says he expects BC will receive nearly two billion dollars from the federal government under a new COVID-19 Safe Restart Agreement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is providing a total of 19-billion dollars to provinces and territories to boost their economies amid the pandemic. The agreement includes 10 days of paid sick leave, fully funded by the federal government. Horgan says the sick-leave program is a key move to make sure nobody feels pressured to go to work while ill.
BCJul 17, 2020
21 new COVID-19 cases reported in B.C.
BC is reporting 21 new cases of COVID-19 and no additional deaths. The province's death toll stands at 189. The province's top doctor says 2,789 people in BC have recovered from the illness out of 3,170 cases in total. Doctor Bonnie Henry says 192 of BC's cases are active. Four cases are now associated with Krazy Cherry Fruit Company in Oliver and Henry says 27 cases have been linked to recent instances of community exposure in Kelowna. Dr. Henry says the next step is more targeted antibody testing to help understand who has been most affected by the virus.
BCJul 16, 2020
Pedestrian in critical condition after a crash near Cloverdale neighbourhood
Police say a pedestrian is in critical condition after a crash involving a semi truck in Surrey's Cloverdale neighbourhood this morning. RCMP say they responded to the collision at the intersection of 172 Street and Highway 10 just after 9:40 A-M and roads are closed in the area. They say the driver of the semi truck remained at the scene and officers are investigating. The pedestrian is in hospital in critical condition and police ask that anyone who witnessed the collision come forward.
BCJul 16, 2020
B.C. sets another record with monthly overdose deaths
Another record for monthly overdose deaths related to illicit drugs has been set in British Columbia. The BC Coroners Service says 175 fatalities in June surpassed the previous high of 171 deaths in May. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says the pandemic has limited access to harm-reduction services and people should not be using opioids or other substances alone. Lapointe is urging substance users to have someone present when using drugs or to go to an overdose prevention or supervised-consumption site where drugs can be checked for toxicity. She says opioids, along with cocaine and the stimulant
BCJul 16, 2020
BC health officials concerned about the increase in new cases of COVID-19
BC health officials say they're concerned about the increase in new cases of COVID-19 in the province. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement that they're worried COVID-19 is silently circulating in communities. The province has logged 21 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of three-thousand 149. While infections early in the pandemic were concentrated in long-term care and assisted living facilities, health officials say most of the new cases are in the broader community. The statement says residents need to do their part by layering
BCJul 15, 2020
RCMP investigating suspicious death after body found between Langley and Surrey
Police are investigating after a body was found in a wooded area on the boundary between Langley, B.C., and Surrey on Wednesday morning. Surrey RCMP say in a news release that officers and members of the Langley fire department responded to a report of a brush fire shortly before 11 a.m. They say the fire was put out and a body was found. The cause of the person's death is not known but police says it's suspicious. The Mounties did not provide information about the identity of the person found dead. Surrey RCMP's general investigation unit has taken over the investigation.
BCJul 15, 2020
Camping approved for Vancouver parks but tents must be gone by mid-morning
The Vancouver Park Board has passed a motion allowing overnight camping in parks around the city.In a social media post, the board says the vote includes provisions to "more effectively manage temporary structures and tents for those seeking shelter in parks."The board says the move reflects recent B.C. Supreme Court decisions recognizing the Charter right to stay in public spaces when adequate shelter is not available.The motion passed 4-3 after two nights of debate and submissions from dozens of speakers.The updated bylaw requires tents to be removed each morning.The change comes after more
BCJul 15, 2020
Jagmeet Singh on 'Sver Wala Show': If evidence emerges, police should also investigate WE Charity contract
Leader of the Federal NDP, Jagmeet Singh shared his views on important political issues, on Connect FM's 'Sver Wala Show' this morning.Singh says that Public Services and Procurement Canada is a highly capable agency, and government should have undertaken the responsibility of administering Canada Student Service Grant on their own instead of giving it away to WE Charity.He says if substantial relevant evidence emerges out of the WE Charity probe, then police should also investigate the issue.About Canada's China policy, he agreed with government's decision to not swap Meng Wanzhou for the two