People in their 30s and older can now pick up packs of free COVID-19 tests at pharmacies across British Columbia. The province expanded eligibility Monday for the rapid antigen tests, which are intended for future use in case of illness and should not be picked up by anyone with symptoms of an active infection. Eligible individuals can pick up one kit of five tests every 28 days by showing their personal health number. If others are picking up a kit on another person's behalf, they should present the person's name, personal health number and date of birth. As of Monday, there were 271 people

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 506 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 354,084 cases in the province:March 18-19: 200 new casesMarch 19-20: 170 new casesMarch 20-21: 136 new cases There are 271 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 49 are in intensive care.In the past 72 hours, eight new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,974. There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Selkirk Seniors Village (Island Health), for a total of eight facilities with ongoing outbreaks. From March 11-17, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 16.8% of cases. From

The Transportation Safety Board says a defect in a railway track was found nine days before 38 Canadian National Railway cars derailed in northern British Columbia but it wasn't fixed. A report released Monday says the problem on the CN main track was identified as needing an urgent fix in May 2021, but a followup track inspection didn't find the bent spikes or a spreading of the rails on the curve where the cars left the tracks.All of the cars remained upright and no dangerous goods spilled when the derailment happened June 3.The train was heading from Chetwynd to Prince George and both crew

Kamloops RCMP hope the public can help them trace the movements of a van linked to a suspicious death in the area. Investigators say a body was found in the van last Thursday while it was parked outside a home just west of Kamloops. The white, 2020 GMC van has a ``Budget'' decal on the driver's door and another saying ``we sell boxes'' on the driver's side rear quarter panel, and officers want to talk to anyone who may have seen the vehicle around the southern Interior recently. Police say they are waiting for results of an autopsy before confirming the victim's name or cause of death.

Vancouver Police have arrested a suspect for the assault of a 61-year-old man at the Granville SkyTrain Station, just one day after releasing graphic video of the victim being shoved down a flight of stairs. "More than 80,000 people viewed and shared this video on social media in the first 24 hours after it was released by Vancouver Police on Friday," says Constable Tania Visintin. "Late Saturday afternoon, an astute citizen who had seen the video on Instagram spotted the suspect walking near Granville and Georgia streets, and called 9-1-1.Thanks to that citizen, Vancouver Police arrested a 53

Surrey RCMP is releasing the photo of a robbery suspect and seeking the public’s assistance with identifying the man. On February 8, 2022 at 9:14 a.m., Surrey RCMP received a report of a robbery at a gas station in the 14400-block of 104 Avenue. The suspect allegedly flashed what appeared to be a handgun at the cashier and demanded money. The suspect had fled the scene with a small amount of cash, prior to police being notified.The suspect is described as a Caucasian male, wearing a white and black tie-dyed hooded sweatshirt with the hood up and a ball cap underneath, a grey jacket with neon

B.C. is reporting 199 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 353,578 cases in the province. The new cases include:Fraser Health: 52Vancouver Coastal Health: 18Interior Health: 72Northern Health: 14Island Health: 43People who reside outside of Canada: zeroThere are 290 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 46 are in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, six new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,966.There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. The outbreak at Sidney Care Home (Island Health) has been declared over, for a total of seven facilities with ongoing outb

Vancouver Police have released video of a suspect who allegedly pushed a stranger down a flight of stairs at a downtown SkyTrain station this month, and ask anyone with information to come forward. "Given the time of day and the location of the incident, we know there were people in the area who witnessed this assault," says Constable Tania Visintin. "We also know there will be people who recognize the man in this video, and we’re asking them for help to solve this crime."On March 1, just before 5:30 p.m., a 61-year-old man had a brief interaction with two men on Granville Street in front of

Premier John Horgan has released the following statement on Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colours:"This week, on the last full moon in the lunar month of the Hindu calendar of Phalguna, people and communities here in British Columbia and around the world will be celebrating Holi."Known as the Festival of Colours, Holi marks the end of winter and the start of spring. It is a time for new beginnings and renewal, for hope and optimism."After two of the most challenging years we have ever faced, British Columbians are coming back together to reconnect, recover and rebuild stronger than ever."For tho