Britain is the first country to grant a conditional authorization to pharmaceutical giant Merck's coronavirus antiviral, the first pill shown to successfully treat COVID-19. It's intended to be taken at home twice a day for five days by people with mild to moderate COVID-19.An antiviral pill that reduces symptoms and speeds recovery could prove groundbreaking, easing caseloads on hospitals and helping to curb outbreaks in poorer countries with fragile health systems.The pill is also pending review by regulators in the United States and the European Union.

B.C. is reporting 430 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 207,120 cases in the province.There are currently 4,373 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 200,220 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 137 individuals are currently in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, six new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,192.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: fourInterior Health: oneIsland Health: oneThere has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Hallmark on the Park (Fraser Health). The outbreaks at Heritage

On October 27, 2021 at approximately 11:50 PM, members of BC Highway Patrol’s Traffic Safety Unit - Police Dog Service (TSU-PDS) checked a suspicious vehicle parked in an overnight parking area reserved for commercial vehicles near Revelstoke, BC. Police observed that the seats behind the driver were removed and the vehicle, a Toyota minivan, was filled from floor to ceiling with boxes and concealed by a blanket. The van’s occupants, a man and woman from Calgary, were queried on police databases and were found to be the subjects of prior criminal activity in the Lower Mainland.Based on the

Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta North and Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, has issued the following statement in honour of the proclamation declaring November as Sikh Nation Blood Donation Month:"In November 1999, the Sikh Nation organized its first blood donation campaign in Surrey with the belief that all humans should live a safe and happy life. Powered by that belief and the dedication of a few hard-working volunteers, this grassroots campaign became an annual event, growing in size and impact with every year."Now in its 22nd year, the campaign has dozens of clinics across Ca

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb has apologized for reposting an article on his personal Facebook page that suggested there are two sides to the history of residential schools. Speaking at a council meeting last night, Cobb says he is ``seriously sorry'' for the repost and says he did not endorse it, but he also called the complaint from Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars a ``personal attack'' because the post was on Cobb's personal page, not on the page he uses as mayor. Sellars could be immediately reached for comment but Charlene Belleau, who attended the meeting and spoke for th

Saanich Police are promising to crackdown on unlawful weekend parties at the University of Victoria. Police say in a release there have been parties every weekend since the semester started in September, with crowds of up to one thousand people drinking alcohol, committing assaults, along with disorderly conduct that borders on rioting. On the Halloween weekend, police say people discharged fireworks into the crowd, officers in a police car were surrounded by a mob and several intoxicated and underage youth needed medical attention. Police say they'll be putting up roadblocks, increasing foot

The B.C. RCMP, British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC), Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and municipal police are warning the public about an emerging trend of fraudsters using social media and online dating sites to lure B.C. residents into crypto-asset scams.In the first eight months of 2021, British Columbians reported losses of $3.5 million from crypto investment scams – more than triple the amount lost last year, which was just over $1 million, according to CAFC data. On average, only five per cent of fraud victims report such incidents to authorities. Fraudsters are adapting the

Surrey RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance with locating a missing couple.On October 31, 2021, Matthew Sawatzky and Janaye Sawatzky (née Sears) were reported missing. They were last seen at a residence in the 14500 block of 67A Avenue around 9:00 a.m. the same day. Family and police have been unable to make contact with Matthew or Janaye and are very concerned for their wellbeing as this is out of character.Matthew Sawatzky is described as a 23-year-old Caucasian man, 5’10, 170lbs, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a beard.Janaye Sawatzky is described as a 22-year-old Caucasian woman

A team from the Transportation Safety Board has been assigned to investigate the fire that destroyed containers aboard a freighter now moored off the south coast of Vancouver Island. A statement from the board says the team will "gather information and assess the occurrence" aboard the MV Zim Kingston. The fire was reported in a row of containers stacked on the deck of the ship shortly after the vessel was caught in a severe storm on Oct. 22, near the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait. That storm also swept 109 other containers into the ocean, where most are still missing, and the few that washe