BCDec 15, 2020
Second day of testing at Big White Ski Resort following a few positive cases of COVID-19
Interior Health says it is carrying out a second day of testing at Big White Ski Resort following a few positive cases of COVID-19, and reports of partying on the mountain. The resort's senior vice-president says the company knows there are people residing on the mountain who have probably been gathering when they should be. Interior Health says the cases of COVID-19 detected are related to transmission caused by social activity in homes and accommodations. Senior vice-president Michael Ballingall says testing is underway to determine who else may have contracted the virus. He says young peo
BCDec 15, 2020
First doses of the COVID-19 vaccine set to be administered to BC residents today
The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are set to be administered to BC residents today. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry told a news conference yesterday that the vaccine will be given to workers in long-term care facilities to start. Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions are due to receive the first doses, with the rest of the province having access by next week. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is being used in the regions covered by the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities and will be given to workers in long-term care facilities. Dr. Henry says a second dose of
BCDec 15, 2020
First doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arrive in B.C.; Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C. will administer first vaccines tomorrow
The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in British Columbia and will start to be administered on Tuesday. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the vaccine's arrival is "momentous" news, but warned it doesn't mean it's safe to break physical distancing restrictions. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is being used in the regions covered by the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities and will be given to workers in long-term care facilities. There were 2,146 new cases of COVID-19 over the last three days, bringing the total number of infections to 42,943 since the pande
BCDec 14, 2020
City, park board put plan in place to empty Vancouver tent encampment for homeless
A plan has been released to end the encampment in Vancouver's Strathcona Park as soon as possible. The park board says it's working with the city to find several short-term solutions on temporary indoor spaces while it looks for a longer-term fix. The board says in a statement that once indoor spaces have been found they'll enforce the bylaw prohibiting overnight camping in the park. A statement from the Vancouver Park Board says the city has identified several properties that can be used as temporary indoor spaces to bring people inside. Those properties include the Jericho Hostel as well a
BCDec 14, 2020
Warning to business owners in Victoria after two similar 'smash and grab' robberies
Victoria police are warning business owners after two similar smash-and-grab robberies over the weekend. Police say on Saturday morning someone broke through the glass door of a business and took several hundred dollars from the register. On Sunday, officers received a similar report.Someone smashed the glass door of a business and took the cash register's float. Police say neither incident was captured on video and they're reminding business owners not to leave cash in their registers overnight.
BCDec 14, 2020
Public Safety Ministry is warning about the risk of holiday-related fires from festive lights
The Public Safety Ministry is warning about the risk of holiday-related fires from festive lights and other items that may be kept close to heat sources. It says the Office of the Fire Commissioner reports 113 Christmas-related fires in BC in the last decade.These fires have caused multiple injuries, four deaths and 14.5 million dollars in damage. Jennifer Rice, the parliamentary secretary for Emergency Preparedness, says most of the fires over the holiday season are caused by decorative lights being left on, used improperly or being faulty. She says the fire commissioner also had reports of
BCDec 14, 2020
2,300 dollar fine issued to the organizer of a protest in Kelowna against COVID-19 restrictions: RCMP
RCMP have issued a 2,300 dollar fine to the organizer of a protest in Kelowna against COVID-19 restrictions. Police say the march through the city's downtown drew several hundred people on Saturday. Mounties are not releasing the name of the self-identified protest leader at this time. Police say officers attended the event to maintain the peace and help prevent any confrontations between demonstrators and others when the fine was issued.
BCDec 14, 2020
More details about the limited availability of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine starting this week expected to be announced today
Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix are expected to provide more details today about the limited availability of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine starting this week. Dr. Henry has said staff at long-term care facilities and front-line health-care workers in hospitals are first in line for the vaccine at two locations, one in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and the other in Fraser Health. The Public Health Agency of Canada said some of the 30,000 initial doses of the vaccine were expected to touch down last night at 14 distribution centres in all 10 prov
BCDec 12, 2020
737 COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths reported in B.C.
BC has recorded 737 cases of COVID-19 today and another community outbreak. A joint statement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix says 11 more people have died, while 342 people are in hospital. The number of actives cases climbed slightly to 9,589 in the province. That includes 87 patients in intensive care. At least 30 people have tested positive after an outbreak at the Regent Christian Academy and the private school has been closed until after the winter break. There are over 12,000 people under active public health monitoring because they were e