BCJan 22, 2022
B.C. reports 2,364 COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations rise past 900
B.C. is reporting 2,364 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 308,079 cases in the province.There are 33,997 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 269,137 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 924 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 130 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:686 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 15,768499 new cases in Vancouver Coastal HealthTotal active cases: 8,121655 new cases in Interior HealthTotal active cases: 6,490190 new cases in Northern
BCJan 22, 2022
Change to shorter isolation period part of managing COVID-19 in B.C.: Dr. Bonnie Henry
British Columbia's top doctor says the current wave of COVID-19 is causing less severe illness and that calls for a shift to shorter periods of isolation in order to minimize societal disruptions. Dr. Bonnie Henry says unvaccinated adults who test positive are at risk of having longer-lasting and more severe illness and must isolate for 10 days but those who are vaccinated should isolate for five days. She says children are at much lower risk of severe illness and are able to clear an infection faster, so five days' isolation is also suitable for them, with mounting evidence showing they need
BCJan 21, 2022
Man convicted of lesser charge in 2020 shooting death in Surrey, B.C.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says a B.C. Supreme Court judge has convicted a man in the shooting death of Pritpal Singh in Surrey, B.C. Robert Tomljenovic was charged with second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm after Singh's death in April 2020. The homicide team says in a news release that Tomljenovic was convicted by the court on Thursday of robbery and a lesser charge of manslaughter. Police said at the time when charges were laid they believed the shooting was targeted, but RCMP later said it was a random shooting. Singh was 21 years old. The man will be sentenced a
BCJan 21, 2022
B.C. reports 2,150 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths
B.C. is reporting 2,150 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 305,715 cases in the province.There are 34,835 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 265,765 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 891 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 119 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:576 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 16,516454 new cases in Vancouver Coastal HealthTotal active cases: 8,553563 new cases in Interior HealthTotal active cases: 6,067203 new cases in Northern
BCJan 20, 2022
Drivers told not to stop for photos along flood-damaged B.C. highway
A key British Columbia highway has reopened to all traffic after being torn apart by disastrous flooding in November but it only took hours for the Transportation Ministry to issue a safety reminder. In a post on social media, the ministry says it has received reports of people stopping ``in unsafe ways'' to take pictures along the Coquihalla Highway corridor, also known as Highway 5. A roughly 130-kilometre stretch of the multi-lane, high-speed link between the Lower Mainland and the Interior was ripped up by floods or slides that also collapsed or washed out seven bridges during a series of
BCJan 20, 2022
B.C. reports 2,387 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths
B.C. is reporting 2,387 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 303,565 cases in the province.There are currently 35,770 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 262,591 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 895 COVID-positive individuals are currently in hospital and 115 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:814 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 17,441487 new cases in Vancouver Coastal HealthTotal active cases: 8,945550 new cases in Interior Healt
BCJan 19, 2022
Two people injured after shooting in Surrey
Two people have been slightly injured in what police say was an early morning targeted shooting in Surrey. RCMP say it happened just after 3 a.m. inside a warming centre in the Whalley neighbourhood. The police statement says a 24 year old man who is known to them is believed to have been the target but a 57 year old woman was also hurt, and both were treated in hospital and released. Investigators say the attack is not believed to be linked to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.
BCJan 18, 2022
Fitness centres can reopen in B.C., other COVID restrictions remain
Gyms and other exercise facilities are being allowed to reopen in British Columbia, a move the province's top doctor describes as a "cautious step" in lifting COVID-19 restrictions.Dr. Bonnie Henry says proof of vaccination will be required to use gyms, which will operate under capacity limits.Henry says other restrictions that went into effect in December will remain in place because of the high rates of transmission of COVID-19 and the number of people needing hospital care.Bars and nightclubs will stay closed and capacity limits are still in place for restaurants, theatres and stadiums.Henr
CanadaJan 18, 2022
Grocery store closures loom amid labour, product shortages
Grocery stores are struggling with rising labour and product shortages that experts warn could threaten Canada's food security. Gary Sands, senior vice-president of public policy with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, says employee absenteeism due to COVID-19 protocols has hit about 30 per cent across Canada, and rising. Without access to rapid testing in many provinces, he says workers are repeatedly forced to isolate for a week or more after an exposure to COVID-19. Sands says if the situation worsens, some grocery stores won't be able to open, threatening food security in rur