B.C. is reporting 269 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 354,603 cases in the province. There are 258 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, and 49 are in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, one new death (Northern Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 2,975.There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks, for a total of five facilities with ongoing outbreaks. From March 15-21, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 16.0% of cases.From March 8-21, they accounted for 26.3% of hospitalizations.Past week cases (March 15-21) - Total 1,416Not vaccinated: 203 (14.3%)Partia

Starting Wednesday, March 23, 2022, rapid antigen test kits will be available to people aged 18 years and older through community pharmacies. Eligible individuals can pick up one kit of five tests every 28 days from participating pharmacies at no cost. Individuals must present their personal health number when picking up the kit or, if others are picking up kits on their behalf, in addition to the individual’s name and personal health number, date of birth must also be supplied.Individuals should pick up a test kit when not having symptoms of illness to use at a future time when having sympt

An arrest warrant has been issued for Jesse Bennett on March 22, 2022.As North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP officers continue to search for Jesse and his daughter Violet, investigators have now gathered sufficient evidence to recommend a criminal charge against Jesse. As a result, a warrant for his arrest has been issued by a Provincial Court.Jesse and Violet Bennett have been reported missing on January 24, 2022. See original media release here.Jesse Bennett is wanted for Abduction in contravention of a custody order. Jesse Bennett is described as:Caucasian man;36 years old;5’10160 lbsBlue eyesBrow

Vancouver Police have arrested the man who allegedly defaced a memorial to passengers of the Komagata Maru last summer.VPD officers located and arrested Yuniar Kurniawan in the Downtown Eastside on Monday night. Kurniawan was charged with one count of mischief in January, and had been wanted on a BC-wide warrant prior to his arrest.The charge stems from a VPD investigation that was launched on August 22, 2021, when the Komagata Maru memorial, located in Coal Harbour, was defaced with white paint, hand prints, and graffiti. The memorial honours passengers who were aboard the Komagata Maru when

Victoria Police Chief Del Manak says he's disappointed Esquimalt council has rejected the portion of his department's 2022 budget that would have funded 10 new positions. Esquimalt and the City of Victoria share policing costs for the capital and although Victoria council has approved the department's entire 63.4-million dollar budget, Esquimalt rejected the portion that would have funded the 10 new jobs. Manak says the new hires, including two plainclothes co-responder officers who work as a team with a psychiatric nurse, are ``an essential component of the department's overall core budget r

Vancouver police say an assault charge has been approved after a man was allegedly shoved down a flight of stairs at a Vancouver SkyTrain station. Police say 53 year old Bradley King faces a single count of assault related to the March 1st incident where video appears to show a 61 year old man being pushed and then kicked as he lay at the bottom of the stairway. Investigators say there was a verbal confrontation between the victim and another man in the moments before the 61 year old was shoved. Court documents show King has been released from custody and is scheduled to return to court on Ap

Police in Delta say the suspect in an arson case that caused an estimated 100,000 dollars in damage is a minor. Police say the youth was arrested on Friday but has been released, and is expected to appear in court at a later date. They say information is being prepared for a submission to Crown for approval of a charge against the individual. The possible charge is tied to a fire earlier this month at a playground at Chalmers Park in North Delta. Delta police on Twitter: On March 5, 2022 Delta Police responded to a report of a fire at the playground area of Chalmers Park. On March 18, 2022 a

A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the death of a 49-year-old woman in her home last year in New Westminster, B.C. Carlo Tobias, who is 22, was originally charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty to one count each of manslaughter and being an accessory after the fact in the death of Ma Cecilia Loreto. The defence and Crown counsel submitted a joint recommendation of a 10-year sentence, minus 18 months for time served, which Judge Peter La Prairie of the B.C. provincial court agreed to. An agreed statement of facts read in court by Crown counsel Jay Fogel

The Health Ministry says there have been no more deaths related to COVID-19 in British Columbia. B.C. reported 254 hospitalizations on Tuesday, a slight drop from Monday when there were 271 people in hospital. It says 48 people were in intensive care. No new outbreaks have been declared in health-care facilities since Monday, and three others have ended. That leaves five facilities with ongoing outbreaks across the health-care system. The government says 91 per cent of eligible people aged 12 and up have had their second dose of a vaccine and 57.1 per cent of those have had a third dose.