Canada is signing deals with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and U.S.-based biotech firm Moderna to procure millions of doses of their experimental COVID-19 vaccines.Procurement Minister Anita Anand is announcing the deals this morning in Toronto, which will see Canada get access to the vaccines if they prove to be both safe and effective.Both companies began Phase 3 clinical trials of their vaccine candidates in the last week, large-scale tests to determine how well the vaccines work.Earlier in July both Pfizer and Moderna reported positive results from smaller trials.The Phase 3 trials will both

British Columbia health minister is urging residents not to attend private parties and gatherings after recent increases in the number of COVID-19 cases across the province. Health Minister Adrian Dix says many of the latest cases stem from such events and the numbers serve as a reminder that people must adhere to public health rules this summer. B.C.'s top doctor says public health workers are tracing the contacts of almost all the new cases. But Dr. Bonnie Henry says that's possible because transmission remains low and residents must ensure it stays that way. She says common factors in many

The federal Liberals have given companies more than $5.8 billion in COVID-19-related contracts for personal protective gear and medical supplies. The latest figures provided by the government also show that about two-fifths of the total contracts awarded as of July 16 have gone to domestic suppliers, some of them having retooled operations to provide needed masks, gowns, gloves and ventilators. But many details of the companies involved and the amounts of their contracts are being kept from public view. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the data on N95 respirator masks, where all

The federal government's COVID-19 contact tracing app is facing criticism for its download requirements, which restrict some Canadians from accessing and using the app.The free "COVID Alert" app, which became available on Friday, is designed to track the location of phones relative to each other, without collecting personal data anywhere centrally.Users are notified if their phones have recently been near the phone of a person who later volunteers that they have tested positive for COVID-19.But the app requires users to have Apple or Android phones made in the last five years, and a relativel

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are announcing 50 new cases, including five epi-linked cases, for a total of 3,641 cases in British Columbia. "There are 278 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,168 people who tested positive have recovered. "Of the total COVID-19 cases, five individuals are hospitalized, two of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-

Canadians can now begin downloading a voluntary smartphone app meant to warn users they've been near someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he downloaded the "COVID Alert" app this morning and says the more people who sign up to use it, the better it will be able to trace — and help to slow — the spread of the novel coronavirus. The app is designed to track the location of phones relative to each other, without collecting personal data anywhere centrally, using digital identifications unique to each device. Then users can be notified if their phones hav

There are currently five people in hospital, sickened with COVID-19, the lowest number since March. Health Minister Adrian Dix says he's pleased to see the lower figure from the peak of 144 people in hospital. There are no deaths to report, but another 29 positive cases have been added to list. While there are no new outbreaks, there are now 59 cases linked to Fraser Valley Packers, the Abbotsford berry packing plant. Total number of COVID-19 cases in British Columbia is now 3,591.

The question of how the Liberals will use the 912-million-dollars budgeted for a COVID-19 student-volunteer program remains unanswered, as Justin Trudeau wrapped up a 90-minute appearance before the House of Commons finance committee.Prime Minister Trudeau says the Canada Student Service Grant was another way to promote youth service and the Liberals will continue to look for opportunities to do that.During his testimony, Trudeau told the committee the country won't know whether going with WE Charity to run the program was the right decision, because the organization backed out. Trudeau's chi

There are more COVID-19 infections from outbreaks at a British Columbia berry packing plant and on Haida Gwaii, contributing to the provincial total of 41 new cases announced Wednesday. A statement from provincial health officials says there are now 31 cases connected to Fraser Valley Packers Inc. in Abbotsford and there have been 20 positive tests on Haida Gwaii. It also says an alert has been issued about community exposure for anyone who was at the Liquid Zoo night club in Kelowna from July 15 to 18. A COVID-19 outbreak at the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouve