British Columbia's provincial health officer says officials are considering the "harmonization" of COVID-19 restrictions across the province heading into winter.Dr. Bonnie Henry says the basics will be the same for everyone heading into a challenging period when "we don't want this virus to take off again."Henry told a news conference Tuesday she expects there will be some additional restrictions in areas where transmission remains high and immunization rates are low, such as the Northern Health region, parts of the Interior and the eastern Fraser Valley.She says colder weather is pushing peop

Statement issued by City of Merritt: An Evacuation Order has been issued for the entire City of Merritt.Our staff have been working diligently throughout these changing circumstances with one main priority in mind: the safety and wellbeing of our residents. The flood waters have now inundated two bridges across the Coldwater River, and flood waters prevent access to the third.High flood waters have rendered the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant inoperable for an indefinite period. Continued habitation of the community without sanitary services presents risk of mass sewage back-up and persona

Over a two-day period, B.C. is reporting 992 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 211,750 cases in the province:Nov. 10-11: 519 new casesNov. 11-12: 473 new casesThere are currently 4,265 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 204,963 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 384 individuals are currently in hospital and 124 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 48 hours, 23 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,257.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: eig

Surrey RCMP has arrested a 28-year old man, who is alleged to have robbed the same Whalley bank twice, only weeks apart.On October 16, 2021, Surrey RCMP received a report of a bank robbery in 10200-block of King George Boulevard. The suspect fled with cash prior to police arrival.Surrey RCMP Robbery Unit conducted an extensive video canvass in the area and were able to obtain a photo of the suspect. The suspect photo was disseminated to all police agencies throughout the province using the Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC-BC). As a result the suspect was identified.On October 30, 2021, the

B.C. is reporting 555 new cases of COVID-19, including three epi-linked cases, for a total of 210,758 cases in the province.There are currently 4,321 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 203,909 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 404 individuals are currently in hospital and 117 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, 11 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,234.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: fiveVancouver Coastal Health: twoInterior Health: oneIsland Health: three

The latest numbers from British Columbia's coroner show suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths set new records in August and September, pushing total overdose deaths to another record for the first nine months of a calendar year. The BC Coroners Service says 181 people died in August and 152 in September, record figures for both months, and it brings the number of fatalities since the start of the year to 1,534. A coroner's statement says September marked the 12th consecutive month in which there were at least 150 deaths due to toxic illicit drugs. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says the toll is

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,438 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 209,703 cases in the province:Nov. 5-6: 553 new casesNov. 6-7: 462 new casesNov. 7-8: 423 new casesThere are 4,282 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 202,898 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 407 individuals are in hospital and 121 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 72 hours, 17 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,218. The new deaths include:Fraser Healt

Federal leaders are paying tribute to the sacrifices of Indigenous veterans as well as the discrimination they faced after returning from war. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says all flags on federal government buildings, including the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, were lowered to acknowledge the service of Indigenous veterans. He told his Caucus this morning that Indigenous people who served across this country often faced systems and discrimination and barriers that were greater than they were for others. It is estimated that more than 12,000 Indigenous people joined the Canadian military

B.C. is reporting 549 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 208,265 cases in the province.There are 4,483 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 201,267 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 441 individuals are in hospital and 129 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, one new death (Northern Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 2,201.There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Bethshan Gardens (Fraser Health). The outbreak at West Shore