BC's top doctor says the decision to delay second doses of COVID-19 vaccine by four months is based on scientific evidence and real-world data. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the data show protection from a single dose is upwards of 90 per cent and lasts for several months. She says delaying second doses will reduce mortality and severe illness for those most at risk while maximizing the benefit of vaccines for everyone. Dr. Henry adds that the approval of Oxford-AstraZeneca's vaccine, which can be kept in the fridge, means it's possible everyone in BC could receive their fir

Four hospitals around Metro Vancouver have now been forced to close units because of COVID-19 infections. Fraser Health says 10 patients in one unit of Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody have tested positive for the illness. That unit has been closed to all admissions, transfers and visits until further notice. The health authority said Sunday that outbreaks had occurred at separate units of Surrey Memorial and Chilliwack General hospitals, affecting a total of six patients. Vancouver Coastal Health says three units in the highrise tower of Vancouver General Hospital have also been closed sin

An autopsy is expected after the death of an 11 year old boy severely injured several days ago at his family's home east of Vancouver. Agassiz RCMP said Monday that the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team had taken over the case because the boy was not expected to survive. Sgt. Frank Jang, spokesman for the homicide team, says the child died later that day from extensive injuries, but few other details are being released. The boy had been rushed to hospital in critical condition Friday after being injured in his home in the community of Harrison Mills, about 100 kilometres east of Vancouve

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says the market is heating up so fast that home sales in the region doubled between January and February and have climbed by more than 70 per cent since last year. The board says February sales in the B.C. region totalled 3,727, a 73.3 per cent increase from the 2,150 sales recorded the year before and a 56 per cent spike from the 2,389 homes sold the month before. February sales were so strong that REBGV says they were 42.8 per cent higher than the month's 10 year sales average. The board says the region saw 5,048 new listings in February, up from 4

Surrey RCMP is providing a second update regarding to the investigation of an assault with a weapon that injured a youth at a high school in Newton. The third suspect has turned themselves in to police. On March 1, 2021, two other suspects were arrested. All three suspects were held in police custody and will appear in court today. All of the suspects are youth, and are not previously known to police. The initial indications are that the assault is related to an on-going dispute among parties known to one another. This incident is not related to gang activity and there is no indication of an o

Health officials have released the first details about the mass vaccination strategy that aims to provide COVID-19 immunizations to about four million BC residents by September. Beginning immediately, residents and staff of independent living centres, seniors' supportive housing facilities and those giving or receiving homecare support will be contacted to arrange appointments. Seniors aged 90 and up will be eligible for a shot as early as next Monday, followed a week later by those aged 85 and over, while people over 80 can book starting March 22nd. By mid-April, people between 60 and 79 and

More than 275 thousand COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in BC, but that isn't nearly enough to prevent new health facility outbreaks at Glacier View Lodge, Chilliwack General Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital. However, several outbreaks were also declared over, including one at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver. BC is reporting 1,478 new COVID-19 infections from Saturday to Monday, for a total of 80,672 cases in the province since the pandemic began. There are 4,464 people with active cases in the province, of whom 236 are hospitalized and 65 are

RCMP say two youths have been arrested after a male was injured in an assault with a weapon outside a high school in Surrey, B.C. Mounties say investigators have identified three suspects in the assault, which happened Monday morning outside of Panorama Ridge Secondary School. The injured youth was taken to hospital in stable condition and the school was placed on a "hold and secure" until the safety of all students was confirmed, police say. All of the suspects are youth and were not previously known to police, RCMP say, and while two have been arrested and are in custody, officers are still

Police say homicide investigators have been called after a child was found in medical distress in a small community in the Fraser Valley. The RCMP in Agassiz say the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over after they were called to a home in Harrison Mills to assist BC Ambulance Service when it was called to a medical emergency. They say the child was taken to a regional hospital where he was in critical condition and not expected to survive. The RCMP say no other details are being released. Upper Fraser Valley RCMP on Twitter: Agassiz - Agassiz RCMP Engage IHIT Following Call o