Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia. "Today, we are reporting that 74.5% of all adults in B.C. and 72.4% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 3,749,758 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 390,264 of which are second doses."We have had 148 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 145,843 cases in British Columbia."Of the new cases, 23 are in

BC's independent police watchdog says an investigation has determined the death of a man after his release from RCMP cells in Mission had no connection to his involvement with police. The Independent Investigations Office says the man was arrested in the early hours of March 21st last year and released from cells about nine hours later. The office says the man was reported missing six days later and a review of available evidence confirms a thorough search was done, including canvassing of the area, patrols and missing-person bulletins. Human remains found this past April in a forested area a

The chief medical officer of health for the southern interior of British Columbia has been arrested on sex charges. Alberta RCMP say Albert de Villiers, who is 52, faces one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference. Cpl. Curtis Peters says de Villiers was arrested in Kelowna Tuesday based on a warrant issued in Grande Prairie, Alta. Grande Prairie RCMP say in a release that the charges follow allegations that occurred between 2018 and 2020 involving a child that were investigated by its Special Investigative Unit. Police say he remains in custody awaiting a judicial hearin

Health officials in British Columbia say it's encouraging to see a steady increase in the number of people who are protected with a COVID-19 vaccine as cases decline. However, of the nearly 3.7 million doses of vaccine that have been administered, less than 346,000 are second doses. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say the province has recorded 165 new infections and no additional deaths as part of its exit out of the pandemic. There are currently 2,051 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., and of the 203 people in hospital, 57 are in intensive care. Peopl

The Provincial Health Services Authority and BC Centre for Disease Control say more than one-million naloxone kits have been shipped across BC since 2012, more than a quarter of them last year, alone. The kits are used to reverse opioid overdoses and a statement from the province says mathematical modelling shows naloxone averted more than three-thousand potentially fatal overdoses between January 2015 and March of this year. But users and those working to reduce the deadly toll from the ongoing illicit drug crisis say naloxone is not enough as BC endures the highest-ever rate of overdoses, r

RCMP in Nanaimo have launched an impaired driving investigation following a hit-and-run crash in that city. The crash seriously injured an 18-year-old woman and totalled the car she was driving. The woman was hit from behind by a pickup truck that tried to cut behind her vehicle as she drove on the Nanaimo Parkway, sending her small car careening out of control, but causing little damage to the pickup. Witness reports led police to the suspected driver and his vehicle. The man was arrested for impaired driving after failing two breath tests, his truck was impounded for 30 days, and he was iss

RCMP in Chilliwack are investigating two separate stabbings in the same area. One of the stabbings involved an 80-year-old man with dementia. Spokeswoman Sergeant Krista Vrolyk says the seemingly unprovoked incidents are extremely concerning and people should be aware of their surroundings, walk with someone else if possible, and report any suspicious activity. Police says a 58 year old man was stabbed on a street but managed to walk to a hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. But the elderly man who was stabbed in the same area 45 minutes later remains in intensive

British Columbia's deputy provincial health officer is encouraging residents to register for a second dose of vaccine as the province heads toward a return to normal life with declining COVID-19 cases and rising vaccination rates. Dr. Reka Gustafson says B.C. recorded 481 cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths over three days while 199 people are in hospital. A total of 511 people were in hospital at the height of the pandemic, with 183 patients in intensive care. Gustafson says 72 per cent of residents 12 and over have now received a first dose of vaccine as the province pushes to get second doses

Surrey RCMP is informing the public of road closures currently in effect following a fatal single vehicle collision in the Guildford area. On June 7, 2021, at 6:52am, Surrey RCMP received the report of a single vehicle collision into a pole on 108 Avenue just west of 144 Street. Upon arrival police located a male passenger with significant injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts performed by Surrey Fire Service and Emergency Health Services the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision. Two other occupants of the vehicle were transported to local are