A survey of nearly 1,300 British Columbia businesses reveals just over half of those already closed to due COVID-19 restrictions expect to reopen. The BC Chamber of Commerce and several partners took part in the Mustel survey, which shows a further 38 per cent of businesses are unsure about reopening and eight per cent already know they won't be back. Of the small businesses still operating, the survey shows 43 per cent estimate they can only survive for a maximum of three more months under current restrictions. More than half report revenues have plunged 75 per cent or more and almost eight

Premier John Horgan has announced a new framework to improve health care and respond to the COVID-19 crisis in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. It includes the addition of 55 ambulances and more planes and helicopters to transport patients to larger centres and culturally appropriate COVID-19 testing. Horgan says the framework will ensure the communities get access to the care they need to meet their unique needs during the pandemic and into the future. It was developed through a partnership between the First Nations Health Authority, Northern Health and Provincial Health Services Au

B.C. is reporting 52 new cases of COVID-19 since Saturday, including five more deaths. This brings the death total to 86 and the total number of cases to 1,699. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the testing strategy is now being expanded to determine how and when some of restrictions can be gradually lifted. However, she says that won't begin until mid-May. Henry also says the province is broadening tests to better track community spread of the virus.

Transit service across Metro Vancouver will see deep cuts over the coming weeks as the company that manages bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain and commuter rail services copes with monthly losses of $75 million. A statement from TransLink says ridership is down 83 per cent due to COVID-19, forcing it to temporarily layoff 1,492 workers and suspend 18 bus routes this week and a further 47 by early May. SkyTrain, SeaBus and the West Coast Express commuter rail line will see service reductions of up to 40 per cent, depending on day and time. TransLink says the cost-saving measures come with a commitment from

BC police and enforcement officers will start issuing $2000 tickets for price gouging and reselling essential supplies during the COVID-19 state of emergency.The province's minister of public safety and solicitor general says the measures are effective immediately.Mike Farnworth says Consumer Protection BC has already received more than 800 complaints about these types of practices.And he adds that all the complaints will be investigated.

British Columbia's provincial health officer says the province has 29 new positive COVID-19 cases as of Saturday afternoon.That brings the province's total to 1,647 people who have tested positive for the virus.Dr. Bonnie Henry says three more people died of the virus, raising the province's death toll to 81.The latest deaths came from long-term care facilities.

British Columbia is reporting 43 new COVID-19 cases, but no new deaths. A joint statement from Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C. now has a total of 1,618 COVID-19 cases. The statement says 119 people are in hospital with 52 of those people in intensive care. It says 966 people have recovered from COVID-19. Earlier Friday, Henry and Dix released modelling data showing B.C. is flattening the COVID-19 curve to the point where plans are underway to loosen some provincial restrictions.

The latest health models examining British Columbia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic show the province has managed to ``flatten the curve,'' slowing the spread of the virus. Officials say B.C.'s rate of cases of the new coronavirus is below expected levels, and well below those recorded in Italy or in China's Hubei province, where the virus was first reported. Henry says the data shows early implementation of measures such as social distancing allowed B.C. to cut the number of cases of the illness. She says B.C. is experiencing a slowing of the rate of infections but warns the ``new normal

The BC Wildfire Service says an aggressive blaze near Squamish, B.C., is being held at one-square kilometre in size but residents pushed out by the flames say several homes have been lost. Toni Kerekes runs a riding school in the area and says she saw one home burning and what remains of at least two others as she left the area late Wednesday. She says the situation is calmer today with the fire mostly burning on a ridge between the Squamish and Paradise valleys. Evacuation orders and alerts issued by the Squamish Lillooet Regional District remain in place. The District of Squamish is also ma