Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,846 new cases of COVID-19, including six epi-linked cases, for a total of 198,278 cases in the province:Oct. 15-16: 753 new casesOct. 16-17: 650 new casesOct. 17-18: 443 new cases There are currently 4,917 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 190,918 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 360 individuals are currently in hospital and 151 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 72 hours, 26 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,081.The new d

BC's police watchdog is investigating after two men arrested separately last weekend went into medical distress while in Vancouver police holding cells. The Independent Investigations Office says one man was arrested on an outstanding warrant late Friday night and the other was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant early Saturday morning. It says both men were found in medical distress later Saturday morning and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. The IIO says its investigation will determine what role, if any, police action or inaction may have played in the men's conditions.

Lawyers for BC's largest gaming companies have told the provincial inquiry into money laundering that their clients consistently met obligations to report suspicious cash. The lawyers representing Great Canadian Casino Company and Gateway Casinos delivered their closing submissions today at the Cullen Commission. Both said that compliance with BC regulations to combat money laundering is and always has been a top priority at provincial casinos. Final submissions are to wrap up tomorrow at the inquiry launched by the province in 2019 with a final report due by mid-December.

The chief of the BC First Nation that got no response when it invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to visit on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation says his visit today was ``bittersweet.'' Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Chief Rosanne Casimir chided Trudeau for ignoring their earlier invitations but said his visit to Kamloops today is a chance to move forward. Trudeau says he regrets his decision not to visit the First Nation on September 30th where the remains of more than 200 Indigenous children are believed to have been found at a former residential school. He says that instead of

A 35 year old man from eastern BC was supposed to return to work in Valemount this morning, but there's still no sign of Daniel Ritchie, one day after RCMP appealed for help finding him. Clearwater Mounties issued a release yesterday confirming Ritchie was last heard from on October 13th. He rented a Ford pickup 10 days ago, while his regular vehicle was in for repairs in Kamloops, and the truck was due to be returned over the weekend, but instead was found abandoned on a forest service road in a remote area south of Clearwater. RCMP want to talk to anyone who has information about Ritchie, d

Fraser Health has declared two new COVID-19 outbreaks, one at Queen's Park Care Centre in New Westminster, where two residents tested positive, and the other at Heritage Villa in Chilliwack, where one resident and two staff were diagnosed. The health authority says enhanced infection control measures are in place. Vancouver Coastal Health has also declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Amica Lions Gate, a private care facility where two residents tested positive. There were 15 active COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care and assisted living as of the province's latest update, as well as four in hospi

The Hong Kong Department of Health has banned direct flights from Vancouver operated by Air Canada for two weeks in response to COVID-19 cases. A statement posted to the department's website says health officials detected nearly 60 imported cases in the first two weeks of this month, including one passenger on an October 13th Air Canada flight from Vancouver. It says another passenger had failed to comply with disease prevention and control requirements, prompting officials to implement the ban, which will remain in effect until October 26th. Air Canada notes that its Toronto to Hong Kong fli

The Hong Kong Department of Health has banned direct flights from Vancouver operated by Air Canada for two weeks in response to COVID-19 cases. A statement posted to the department's website says health officials detected nearly 60 imported cases in the first two weeks of this month, including one passenger on an October 13th Air Canada flight from Vancouver. It says another passenger had failed to comply with disease prevention and control requirements, prompting officials to implement the ban, which will remain in effect until October 26th. Air Canada notes that its Toronto to Hong Kong fli

Saskatchewan is transferring six COVID-19 patients from its overcrowded intensive care units to Ontario hospitals. Some are arriving as soon as today. And Premier Scott Moe is asking the federal government to send help in the form of health-care workers able to work in intensive care settings. Moe says he appreciates any help Ottawa can provide and realizes that while it may not be a large number of staff, it will be a specialized contingent. Although Moe says more people are getting vaccinated since the province announced a new proof of vaccination or proof of negative test requirement.