The COVID-19 curve is slowly bending downward in British Columbia but health officials are urging caution for those making weekend plans given the presence of new variants. The province confirmed 465 new cases Thursday for a total of 69,245 since the pandemic began. There are 4,447 active cases and of those, 257 people are hospitalized including 76 in intensive care. Six more people have died for a total death toll of 1,240 in B.C., while about 62,078 people who tested positive are considered recovered. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say in a joint s

BC Hydro is urging football fans to consider power consumption as they munch snacks in front of the television on Super Bowl Sunday. A release from the Crown utility says, thanks to the pandemic, more people will be watching the big game at home, rather than gathering in large groups, and while that meets health requirements, it could hike electricity use. Eight hundred people were surveyed on Hydro's behalf and results show that electricity use is expected to climb as all those halftime snacks are cooked and more people watch the game at home on individual television screens, some even watch

A mega pop star, a beloved activist and a relative of a ground-breaking politician have angered the Indian government by tweeting support for protesting farmers. It took just one tweet from Rihanna to anger the Indian government and supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party. Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting new agriculture laws they say will devastate their earnings. Greta Thunberg and the niece of US Vice-President Kamala Harris are also among those who tweeted their support. Although Greta Thunberg tweeted again in the support of Indian farmers. She wrote "No amoun

Detectives with the Victoria Police Department's special victims unit are gratified by the response to a call for information about sexualized violence alleged to have involved a former employee at a downtown Victoria restaurant. Police issued a public notice on Monday urging witnesses or victims to come forward if they have details about incidents at the bar and grill. Since then, police say the response has been "amazing" and they are working through the many tips, although they caution the process takes time and patience is necessary. Officers were flagged about alleged sexualized violence

Yukon's chief medical officer of health says vaccination is going well and nearly 10,000 people have received a COVID-19 shot. But Dr. Brendan Hanley says restrictions could remain, even after everyone is immunized. Dr. Hanley made the comment during the regular COVID briefing today in Whitehorse. He says Yukon's initial four-phase response plan predicted public health orders might be scaled back once most people were vaccinated, but he says a surge in COVID-19 variants, plus a growing number of cases in northern BC mean Yukon must stay vigilant. Hanley says even though Yukon currently has no

A woman is dead and a man has been injured in a shooting in Surrey, B.C., in what police say was not a random act. Police were called Thursday morning to a home after reports of gunshots being heard. Officers found a woman in grave condition and a man suffering non-life-threatening injuries inside the home. Both were taken to hospital, but police say the woman died of her injuries. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been called to help with the investigation. Surrey RCMP's tweet: One woman is dead and one male injured following a shooting inside a residence this morning in North S

The federal government says a ban on cruise ships in Canadian waters will stay in place for one more year. The ban until Feb. 28, 2022 applies to cruise ships carrying more than 100 people as well as pleasure crafts operating in the Arctic, except for those used by residents in the region. The ban was originally put in place last year was to expire at the end of February. A news release from Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the ban in necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable communities. He also says it will allow public health authorities to focus on pressing is

The Public Health Agency of Canada says there's been nearly a 30 per-cent drop in active COVID-19 cases across the country over the past two weeks. The agency says there are currently 48,221 active cases in Canada, down from more than 68,400 cases two weeks ago. National data suggest there's also been a downward trend in daily case counts, with an average of 4,061 new infections reported per day over the past week. Authorities say the slowdown has led to a gradual decline in severe COVID-19 outcomes. Provincial and territorial data shows a seven-day average of 3,711 patients being treated in

Police say a 48 year old Vancouver man has been charged with second-degree murder for the city's first homicide of 2021. The killing happened in the Downtown Eastside on Sunday. The VPD says Kenneth Gates was arrested that morning after officers were called to a single-occupancy hotel for a double stabbing. Police say 40 year old Jeremy Greene died on scene and a second stabbing victim, a 28 year old, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Gates remains in custody and he has also been charged with aggravated assault.