The latest figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicate that as of Sunday night, there have been 660,289 reported cases of COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic, including 16,950 deaths. There were 84,567 active infections, with a daily average of 7,672 new cases across Canada from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7. During the same period, an average of 4,336 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospital, including 811 in intensive care. The federal agency says COVID-19 is spreading rapidly among all ages groups. Although the infection rate remains highest for people aged 80 and older, w

The US House of Representatives is working swiftly to try to oust President Donald Trump from office. Republicans blocked a resolution introduced this morning calling on Vice President Mike Pence and the federal cabinet to invoke their constitutional authority to remove Trump from office. But the full House is set to hold a roll call vote on that resolution tomorrow, and it's expected to pass. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Pence will have 24 hours to respond before the House proceeds to Plan B, impeachment on a single charge of incitement of insurrection. A vote on that could come Wednesday

Indigenous leaders are encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and start getting COVID-19 vaccines. The encouragement comes as First Nations across Canada start receiving doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Six of 14 Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations on Vancouver Island were priority recipients of doses of Moderna's vaccine last week. Mariah Charleson, vice-president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, says the council employs nurses who are among those administering vaccinations so people see a familiar face they know and trust. She says health officials need to work with communities to ensure the

Officials at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver confirm a COVID-19 outbreak has spread to two more units at its cardiac centre. In a memo to staff, the director of the St. Paul's Hospital Heart Centre says the outbreak declared last week on one unit has spread to a second unit and an intensive care unit. The memo, issued late Sunday on behalf of centre directors Amanda Harvey and Dr. Sean Virani, says the outbreak is on units 5A, 5B and the Cardiac Care Intensive Care Unit. The memo does not say how many patients, staff or visitors may be involved and a spokesman for Providence Health,

Police say one man is dead and another injured after two separate overnight shootings in the Metro Vancouver area.Richmond RCMP say they were called to a home at about 11:50 p.m. on Saturday where a man had reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and later died.Police have identified the deceased as 28-year-old Dilraj Johal.The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says Johal was known to police and they believe he was targeted for murder. Sgt. Frank Jang of IHIT noted in an email statement that Johal's death is the third homicide in the past four days related to an ongoing Lower Mainlan

British Columbia health officials say they understand the frustration directed at people who defy COVID-19 restrictions, but urged residents to continue following the guidelines to prevent infection. B.C. reported 617 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 18 more deaths, bringing the provincial toll to 988. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement they know it can be frustrating to hear of people not following the guidelines, such as those travelling for non-essential reasons. But they say those who are making the effort to stick to the

BC's Minister of Jobs, Economy Recovery and Innovation says this province is resisting the pandemic-linked trend to higher unemployment, but Ravi Kahlon says we are "not out of the woods," yet. In a statement issued following release of Statistics Canada's monthly employment data, Kahlon says total employment has bounced back to nearly 99 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, but he says sectors like tourism and hospitality are still struggling. He also says people of colour, both business owners and employees, continue to bear the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 slowdown. Kahlon says BC

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is threatening to extend the current lockdown and bring in more "extreme" measures if COVID-19 rates do not come down. The province has shattered another record for daily COVID-19 infections with a total of 4,249 new infections, including 450 from earlier this week. Ford warns the surging cases are stretching hospital capacity and that could lead to more illnesses and deaths. Ford says new projections that will be released next week are very concerning. Ontario's associate medical officer of health says the province may need to return to a stricter lockdown similar t

The family of the slain Capitol Police officer says they want the public to remember him for being a hero. Brian Sicknick died Thursday night of injuries sustained during the riot at the Capitol. His brother, Ken Sicknick, issued a statement through a family spokeswoman Friday. A native of South River, New Jersey, Brian Sicknick served in the New Jersey Air National Guard and went on to a law enforcement career, which his family said was his lifelong dream. He joined the Capitol Police in 2008. His family said it did not want to make Sicknick's death a "political issue" as many questions rema