14.04°C Vancouver

Feb 5, 2021 4:28 AM -

B.C. officials urge 'safe choices' on Super Bowl Sunday amid COVID-19 variants

Share On
b-c-officials-urge-safe-choices-on-super-bowl-sunday-amid-covid-19-variants
Dr. Bonnie Henry can be seen replying to questions during a news conference. (B.C. Government)

The COVID-19 curve is slowly bending downward in British Columbia but health officials are urging caution for those making weekend plans given the presence of new variants.

The province confirmed 465 new cases Thursday for a total of 69,245 since the pandemic began.

There are 4,447 active cases and of those, 257 people are hospitalized including 76 in intensive care.

Six more people have died for a total death toll of 1,240 in B.C., while about 62,078 people who tested positive are considered recovered.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say in a joint statement that the Super Bowl has potential to make Sunday a "super-spreading day" if people don't make safe choices.

It is especially important to respect prohibitions on gatherings given uncertainties about the full impacts of COVID-19 variants of concern that have been confirmed in B.C.

Latest news

coquihalla-highway-reopens-after-trailer-fire-sparked-roadside-wildfire
BCApr 22, 2026

Coquihalla Highway reopens after trailer fire sparked roadside wildfire

The Coquihalla Highway has reopened between Hope and Merritt after a semi-trailer fire forced a closure for much of Tuesday, according to the provincial government. DriveBC, the Ministry of Transportation’s traveller information service, said the route reopened at about 7 p.m. Tuesday. In a post on the social media platform X, the agency said environmental cleanup was ongoing and advised motorists to use caution when travelling through the area. The highway was փակ Monday night after a semi-trailer became fully engulfed in flames and came to a stop on the right shoulder. The fire spread t
faa-reports-near-miss-between-air-canada-and-republic-airways-flights-at-jfk
CanadaApr 22, 2026

FAA reports near miss between Air Canada and Republic Airways flights at JFK

U.S. aviation regulators are investigating a near-miss incident involving an Air Canada jet and a Republic Airways flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said the Republic Airways pilots took evasive action after their aircraft missed its intended approach and came too close to the Air Canada plane. Both flight crews responded to onboard collision-avoidance alerts, the agency said. No injuries were reported. The FAA has not released further details on how close the aircraft came to each other or what factors contribu
surrey-police-investigate-overnight-shooting-at-residence-possible-extortion-link
BCApr 22, 2026

Surrey police investigate overnight shooting at residence, possible extortion link

Surrey Police Service says officers are investigating a shooting at a residential property early Wednesday that is believed to be linked to an extortion attempt. According to an SPS news release, frontline officers responded at approximately 12:40 a.m. to reports of shots fired at a home in the 13400 block of 87A Avenue, near King George Boulevard and 88 Avenue. Police confirmed that no occupants were injured, although the residence sustained damage and bullet casings were found outside. The file has been taken over by the Surrey Police Service Extortion Response Team, with Integrated Forensic
AlbertaApr 22, 2026

New trial ordered in Alberta homicide case after appeal court overturns murder conviction

Alberta’s Court of Appeal has ordered a new trial for a man previously convicted in the 2020 death of his common-law partner, finding legal errors in how intent was assessed at trial. In a decision released Friday, the court overturned Ryan Applegarth’s 2023 conviction for second-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Chantelle Firingstoney. According to the ruling, the trial judge did not make a required finding that Applegarth intended to kill, a key element for a murder conviction. Court records show Firingstoney died in November 2020 at her home in Ponoka, about 95 kilometres south
liberals-plan-motion-to-secure-majority-on-house-committees-mackinnon-says
CanadaApr 22, 2026

Liberals plan motion to secure majority on House committees, MacKinnon says

Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon says the Liberal government will move to change House of Commons procedures to ensure it holds a majority of votes on parliamentary committees. MacKinnon said Tuesday the planned motion would adjust committee composition rules so governing party MPs have the numbers needed to advance legislation and studies. He argued that committees should reflect the governing party’s mandate and avoid what he described as “partisan games” that delay work. The proposal comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals seek to consolidate control of the parliament

Related News