BC marks five years since overdoses were declared a public health emergency. Sheila Malcolmson, mental health and addictions minister, says COVID-19 has had a large impact on people who use drugs. She says the government is committed to decriminalization. But advocates say the government needs to take decisive action. Sheila Malcolmson on Twitter: We are committed to turning this crisis around, before the pandemic, we were making progress and we can and will get back on track until one day, toxic drug poisonings will be something in our past.

The B.C. Restaurants and Food Association says it has been told that current health orders restricting in-person dining will be extended beyond next Monday's deadline.The group says they had a meeting with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry Tuesday, who indicated that the health order would run through to May.It says the continued high number of daily cases and the province's desire to have restrictions in place limiting socialization and gathering indoors was given as the reason.B.C. Premier John Horgan said Tuesday that further COVID-19 restrictions may be on the way. He said his ca

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday informed that he has tested positive for COVID-19.He informed that he has isolated himself and urged those who came in contact with him recently to take necessary precautions."I have tested positive for COVID-19 today. I have home isolated myself. All those who came in contact with me recently please take necessary precautions," Kailash Gahlot tweeted.On Wednesday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also tested positive for COVID-19, while on Tuesday Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath decided to self-isolate after coming in conta

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. "I got tested for COVID-19 after showing some symptoms. The report is positive and I am in self-isolation and following all medical instructions. I am doing my work virtually. All the functions of the state government are running normally. Whoever came in my contact, please get their COVID test done," Adityanath tweeted in Hindi. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Tuesday went into self-isolation after coming into contact with some officials who tested positive for COVID-19.Uttar Pradesh reported 18,02

Farmers staged a protest against the three central agriculture laws at Jandiala Guru Dana Mandi in Amritsar on Tuesday.They also observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to those who died in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on the occasion of its 102nd anniversary.Women protestors raised anti-government slogans, demanding a repeal of the agricultural laws. Speaking to ANI, Sarvam Pander, a member of Kisan Majdoor Sangh said, "We paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. We appeal to everyone including Hindu, Sikh, Muslim or Christians to unite against the ce

A Quebec woman has developed a blood clot after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, in Canada's first case of the rare condition. Federal and provincial health officials say the woman got an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that was produced at the Serum Institute of India, known as Covishield. The agency says the person is now recovering at home. Health Canada says the side-effect is extremely rare and the vaccine's benefits still outweigh its risks. More than 700,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Canada. In the House of Commons today, Health Minister Patty Hajdu was asked by the Conser

Canada's chief public health officer has received her first shot of COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Theresa Tam told an Ottawa news conference today she was unaware of what type of vaccine she was getting until she received an email before getting the shot.Dr. Tam says she received a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Record number of COVID-19 patients in ICU's There are a record number of COVID-19 patients in Canada's intensive care units. Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer, says an average of 970 people have been in ICUs over the last week. The highest 7-day average previously was 880

Health Canada says it is investigating reports the Johnson &Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may be linked to extremely rare cases of blood clots. In a tweet, the Canadian drug regulator says it is following the issue closely and is working with the manufacturer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other international regulators. Health Canada also says it has asked Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson, to provide information on any blood-clotting cases. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration issued a joint state

British Columbia's NDP government is facing criticism from opponents in the legislature over a throne speech committing to an eventual return to normal life. Interim Liberal Leader Shirley Bond says the government should have promised more immediate support for businesses and people in the middle of the third wave of COVID-19 infections. Green Leader Sonia Furstenau says the speech represents only "minor tweaks to the status quo." Promises in the speech include record infrastructure spending, an expansion of 10-dollar-a-day daycare and the hiring of thousands of long-term care workers. BC Lib