British Columbia's fall and winter pandemic battle plan involves ramping up COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and a campaign to administer almost two million flu shots. Health Ministry officials say they have prepared the province for COVID-19 scenarios ranging from low to exceptional outbreaks and they are confident the health system can meet the challenges. The officials say some of the preparations include being able to conduct up to 20,000 daily COVID-19 tests, hiring more than 600 additional contact tracers and purchasing more than 1.9 million doses of flu vaccine. The officials say the

BC Ferries passengers will no longer be allowed to stay in their vehicles starting September 30th. The ferry service says Transport Canada is rescinding the temporary flexibility it granted ferry operators in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It says enclosed car decks represent inherent risk to travellers and Transport Canada has determined there's a clear case for ending the practice. Face coverings are still mandatory on BC Ferries vessels and the company says it will reopen certain dining areas for seating only to make more space for physical distancing.

A British Columbia First Nation has issued a state of emergency after confirmation that four members have COVID-19 and several others are reporting symptoms of the virus.A notice on the Tla'amin Nation website says residents have been ordered to shelter in place to slow the spread of the virus while health officials complete contact tracing.The order affecting the community, which is in the area of Powell River, took effect late Tuesday afternoon and advised members they should stay where the are for the next 72 hours.Access to the First Nation, about 170 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, ha

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has ordered all night clubs and banquet halls to close effective immediately. Dr. Henry also says alcohol can no longer be served at bars and restaurants after 10 pm and they must close by 11 pm unless serving meals. She says the additional restrictions are being put in place because the venues are a significant source of risk of spreading COVID-19. Dr. Henry also says people need to cut down on their social interactions to stay safe now that they're heading back to work and schools are reopening. She made the comment after reporting BC had 429 new c

Smoke from several wildfires in Washington State has drifted northwest to blanket the tip of Vancouver Island, prompting the highest possible air quality risk rating over Victoria and Saanich. Environment Canada's air quality index gives the two cities a ``10-plus'' risk rating, while Westshore ranks at ``10'', meaning strenuous outdoor activities should be avoided and children and the elderly should stay inside. Conditions will improve tomorrow, but smoke from a large wildfire in southeastern BC remains a concern and the weather office predicts conditions in Cranbrook and Castlegar will rema

Police say a man who was punched in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside has died. Const. Tania Visintin says 36 year old Neil Scarisbrick died on Monday. He is Vancouver's 11th homicide victim this year. Visintin says police believe the victim and suspect are known to each other, and there is no risk to the public.

Community centres across Vancouver are set to reopen, with programs and services focused on children, youth, seniors and food security coming first. The Vancouver Park Board says 24 centres are reopening today (Tuesday), followed by a gradual reopening of indoor pools, ice rinks and fitness centres. Certain restrictions and safety protocols remain in place in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The park board says wearing masks inside its facilities is optional but encouraged, while staff will undergo daily health screenings and complete additional training.

BC Jobs Minister Michelle Mungall says there have been positive employment gains for four months in a row after the pandemic shut down the economy. BC's jobless rate last month was 10.7 per cent, slightly higher than the national average of 10.2 per cent. The BC rate for August has improved from the July unemployment rate of 11.1 per cent. Mungall says BC has now recovered almost 247,000 jobs and total employment now stands at 94 per cent of the pre-pandemic level in February.

British Columbia has recorded another 121 cases of COVID-19 and one death related to the virus. In a joint statement on Friday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say there has been a total of 6,162 cases since the pandemic began. COVID-19 has claimed 211 lives in the province. Almost 2,800 people in the province are under active health monitoring after being identified as being exposed to someone who has tested positive, and 4,706 people have recovered. KinVillage long-term care home in Delta is the latest facility with an outbreak after a worker tested