Health officials in British Columbia are reminding residents to follow public health orders and restrictions after a significant rise in cases from earlier this week. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say 617 new cases have been recorded, for a total of 75,327 infections. B.C. had 348 cases between Sunday and Monday, and the average has been under 500 daily infections in the last month. Dr. Henry and Dix say in a joint statement that much of the uptick in cases has been in the Lower Mainland and the northern region. They also reported four more deaths,

Surrey RCMP is informing the public of a recent incident involving multiple overdoses at the same location where people were found overdosing on drugs. A woman was located deceased at a second location, also suspected of overdosing on drugs. At approximately 2:08 a.m. on February 18, 2021, police attended a residence near 106 Avenue and 140 Street after receiving notification from the BC Ambulance Service of a drug overdose. Despite the life-saving efforts of paramedics, the 46-year-old woman died. A very short time later, at 2:32 a.m., police were called to assist the BC Ambulance Service at

The Surrey RCMP Gang Enforcement Team (SGET) arrested a man who is known to police after a collision and foot pursuit, in Guildford. Shortly after 7:00 p.m. on February 17, 2021, an SGET officer conducting a pro-active patrol attempted to stop a vehicle near 168 Street and 88 Avenue. The vehicle, a Mercedes C230, failed to stop for police and drove away erratically, running a red light. The officer did not pursue the vehicle and pulled over roadside. The Mercedes then collided with another motorist. The driver of the Mercedes subsequently ran from the vehicle and into a nearby-forested area. T

Whale researchers are celebrating the birth of a new baby orca to the endangered southern resident killer whales. In a rare event, members of the J pod, K pod and L pod were all in the waters of the Haro Strait yesterday to meet the new calf. Ken Balcolm of the Center for Whale Research says it's important to temper expectations until the calf ages. He added that it is the fourth calf born to L-86 and two siblings didn't survive to adulthood. But he says it's unusual and exciting for all three pods to gather, especially in winter when they aren't usually found in the area.

Northern Health says it has identified new cases linked to an outbreak at the Brucejack Mine near Stewart, BC. The health authority says the new cases bring the total associated with the mine to 42, a dozen of which are active and self-isolating. There are about 485 employees working at the project site and anyone identified as cases or close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate either on-site or in their home communities, Northern Health said.Further south, Fraser Health announced an outbreak at the Mission Memorial Hospital. Three patients at the hospital tested positive. As a resu

RCMP say they were called Wednesday night to a report of an assault at a home in the Panorama Ridge area of south Surrey. The critically injured man was found outside the home. He was given CPR and other emergency treatment but police say he died at the scene. Officers believe the victim and his attacker knew each other, but details are still being gathered. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has joined the case and will handle the release of any further information.

British Columbia is recording 427 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 4,150. Health officials say three more people have died and the death toll now sits at 1,317. There are 232 people in hospital, 63 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement that chains of transmission are broken when everyone works together. To date, 176,015 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.

A 70 year old man was arrested Wednesday in the hit and run death of rapper Nicki Minaj's father. Police say Charles Polevich stopped briefly to ask the injured man if he was OK but didn't call for help. Polevich faces charges of leaving the scene of an incident and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the death last week of 64 year old Robert Maraj on New York's Long Island. Polevich splits time between Long Island and Guam. He is free on bail following an arraignment in Nassau County court. A message seeking comment was left with Polevich's lawyer.

A month-long crackdown has resulted in nearly 300 recommended criminal charges against people police allege are violent and prolific shoplifters working in downtown Vancouver. A statement from Vancouver police says officers worked closely with retailers and store security teams over four weeks, ending Feb. 12.The crackdown identified 250 alleged shoplifting incidents leading to 130 arrests and 268 recommended criminal charges.Police say just over $37,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered, along with 35 weapons, and 45 of those arrested were either the subject of a warrant or were allegedly b