The British Columbia government is closing all provincial parks to ensure compliance with recommendations to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.A statement from the Environment and Climate Change Ministry says the closure applies to everyone, from B.C. and out-of-province, who may have been planning a trip to a provincial park.Minister George Heyman says efforts were made to provide spaces for exercise and fresh air in the parks but it ``has proven too challenging'' to maintain safe physical distancing of two metres between visitors.The timing of the decision is aimed at heading off Ea

Four more people have died as a result of COVID-19 in British Columbia. The total number of deaths is at 43 in the province. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, says 25 new cases have been diagnosed. A total of 12 hundred and 91 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in BC.

The City of Surrey has laid off 1,900 part-time and auxiliary staff and 140 regular employees following the closure of recreation centres, libraries, pools, and other civic facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other municipalities are making similar cuts. The City of Vancouver has laid off about 1,500 workers, mostly from community centres, libraries, and theatres. In Delta, 500 auxiliary and part-time workers – 90 per cent tied to community centres – are also off the job. Residents say the closures have left families struggling without access to community spaces. Baljit Kaur, a mother

RCMP in Surrey say charges have been laid in relation to more than $458,000 in fraudulent credit card transactions. Police say the Surrey RCMP Economic Crimes Unit began investigating in late June 2017 after a report from a local business that believed their customers' credit card data had been compromised. They say incidents of fraud affecting numerous victims in Surrey were connected to similar incidents in Richmond. 31 year old Gagandeep Dhillon from Surrey has now been charged with 28 counts of fraud related offences.

BC's provincial health officer is reporting 53 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death in the Fraser Health region. Doctor Bonnie Henry says there are now one thousand and 68 cases in the province, with a total of 25 deaths. Henry says 142 people are hospitalized and 67 of them are in intensive care. Two of the new cases are at the long term care centre in North Vancouver where many of the province's fatalities have occurred but Henry says she hopes strict new control measures are now beginning to take effect.

The B.C. government has formally extended the provincial state of emergency to support the provincewide response to the COVID-19 pandemic, through the end of the day on April 14, 2020. “The next 14 days are critically important in our province’s unprecedented fight against COVID-19. What we do today will affect what our doctors, nurses and first responders face in the days and weeks ahead,” said Premier John Horgan. “Today, we’re asking all British Columbians to re-commit to doing their part. There are early signs that our actions are making a difference, and we can’t stop now

Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says there are 43 new cases of COVID-19 in BC. Henry says there were also five more deaths in the Fraser and Coastal Health regions, which means 24 people have died from the disease in BC. The total number of cases is 1,013, with 61 people in intensive care. Henry says outbreaks have now been reported at 19 long term care centres, but there are still only two major outbreaks with most other facilities reporting just one case.

Several cities and health authorities are suspending paid parking, especially for health-care workers, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Vancouver says it's temporarily suspending the enforcement of metered parking, residential permit parking and parking time limits, while enforcement will continue for parking spots designated for people with disabilities and other special zones. The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority and Provincial Health Services Authority have also suspended pay parking at sites they own and operate. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the suspe

The provincial health officer says British Columbia is at a critical time in the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the next two weeks mark a second incubation period for the disease as she urged people to follow public health advice because the number of cases haven't peaked yet. The province says two more people have died and another 86 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since Saturday. The province has a total 970 cases of the novel coronavirus. British Columbia has had 19 deaths related to COVID-19. Henry says there are also 13 long-term care homes or assisted-living faci