CanadaOct 07, 2021
Pfizer to seek approval for its vaccine for kids as young as five in about a week
Pfizer Canada says it is preparing to ask Health Canada to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for kids as young as five by mid-October.The U.S. drugmaker submitted a formal request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today and the FDA intends to meet to discuss the submission on Oct. 26.Last week Pfizer submitted data to both governments from a clinical trial on children five to 11 but hadn't formally requested authorization.A spokeswoman for the company's Canadian arm says it is in the final stages of working with Health Canada ahead of the submission being made so kids between five and 11 c
BCOct 07, 2021
B.C. reports 752 new COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths
B.C. is reporting 752 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 191,124 cases in the province.There are 5,945 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 182,786 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 350 individuals are in hospital and 136 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, nine new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 1,992.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: fiveVancouver Coastal Health: threeIsland Health: one There has been one new health-care facil
BCOct 06, 2021
VPD seeks witnesses to West End stranger attack
Vancouver Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was attacked by a stranger in Vancouver’s West End last month."This assault appears to have been completely random and has left the victim with serious injuries to his face," says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD. "We believe there were people in the area who may have witnessed this assault and are asking them to come forward and speak with investigators."The victim, a 52-year-old man, was walking to work near Davie and Howe streets just after 5 a.m. on September 18 when a man walking in the opposite direction randomly punched him in the
BCOct 06, 2021
New B.C. training program for commercial truckers boosts skills, safety: ministry
The British Columbia government says truck drivers will be safer and more skilled once they have completed the province's new mandatory entry-level training program. The Ministry of Transportation says in a written statement that beginning next Monday, anyone applying for a B.C. Class 1 driver's licence must successfully complete the training program before attempting a road test. A Class 1 licence is required by operators of truck and trailer rigs where the trailer is equipped with air brakes. The ministry statement says the program aligns with a new truck driver training framework introduce
BCOct 06, 2021
Seniors advocate releases review of COVID-19 outbreaks at B.C. care facilities
A report from BC's seniors' advocate calls for mandatory vaccinations for all staff in assisted living and long-term care homes, along with booster shots for residents demands that the province had already started to act upon. The report from Isobel Mackenzie says seniors in all types and levels of care home are three-and-a-half times more likely to contract COVID-19 and 33 times more likely to die of it. Her review finds seniors especially those in care facilities have been the hardest hit by the pandemic because they are the most frequent victims of the virus. Provincial data shows just und
BCOct 06, 2021
Three men stabbed in a series of attacks in Vancouver
Vancouver police say three men have been stabbed in a series of attacks that began on the city's Downtown Eastside yesterday afternoon. A written statement from police says investigators are trying to determine if the stabbings are linked, but the public is not believed to be at risk. A 27 year old suspect was arrested after the first attack in a social housing complex at about 1 pm yesterday but Constable Tania Visintin says the other two victims were stabbed early this morning and no arrests have been made. She says the 27 year old suspect was tracked to an apartment building where he was f
BCOct 06, 2021
IIO investigating police actions during a shooting in Richmond
The province's law enforcement watchdog is investigating police actions during a shooting in Richmond Tuesday. RCMP say police officers responded to calls about an armed man and when they arrived on scene shots were fired by police. They say officers provided medical assistance to the man before paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital in critical condition. The Mounties say the Independent Investigations Office is looking into the incident but no other details were released.
CanadaOct 06, 2021
All federal employees, air and rail travellers must be fully vaccinated
The federal government has announced that public servants must attest they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 29th, or be put on unpaid administrative leave. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement this morning, saying the new policy applies to the core public service, air travel and rail employees and travellers. He says there will be few exceptions.Officials say the policy will affect more than 267,000 core public-service and RCMP workers, and will apply even to those who work from home and outside of the country.
BCOct 06, 2021
One person is dead after a shooting in Surrey
One person is dead after a shooting in Surrey Tuesday night.RCMP were called to the 12200 block of 80 Avenue for a gunshot call at approximately 9:56 p.m.An adult victim was found with gunshot wounds, but died of their injuries at the scene.No details have been released about the victim.Police have not revealed a motive for the shooting, saying the investigation is in the evidence gathering phaseThe Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been called and will be working together with the Surrey RCMP Major Crime Section.