British Columbia's top doctor says COVID-19 hospitalizations are at their highest level and over 60 per cent of patients since December have tested positive for the virus after being admitted for other reasons. Dr. Bonnie Henry says 706 people have been hospitalized in the last week, but the numbers appear to be peaking. She says patients who contracted the dominant Omicron variant are going home in about half the time compared with those who are sickened with the Delta variant. Dr. Henry says 16 per cent of people hospitalized since Dec. 1 have needed critical care, a much smaller proportion

Quebec Premier Francois Legault says he is abandoning his threat to tax the unvaccinated. Legault told a news conference today he is worried about dividing Quebecers and is backtracking in order to maintain social peace in the province. The premier announced on Jan. 11 he planned to make the unvaccinated pay a significant financial penalty because they were overrepresented in the health-care system. About 10 per cent of the province's eligible population are unvaccinated. Legault is also announcing that gyms and spas will be allowed to reopen on Feb. 14.

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 4,075 new cases of COVID-19, including five epi-linked cases, for a total of 324,615, cases in the province. Jan. 28-29: 1,725 Jan. 29-30: 1,293 Jan. 30-31: 1,057 There are currently 27,454 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 293,124 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 1,048 COVID-positive individuals are currently in hospital and 138 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. The new/active cases include: 1,225 new cases in Fraser Health Total active cases: 11,503 645 ne

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isn’t planning to meet with the protesters involved in the truck convoy against vaccine mandates. He says while he has attended rallies in the past, he has chosen not to go anywhere near protests that have expressed hateful rhetoric and endorsed violence toward fellow citizens. He had this message for politicians who he says are exploiting people’s fears.Trudeau has tested positive for COVID-19 and says two of his children have now contracted COVID. He says he's feeling fine and will be working from home this week as he follows public health guidelines. Trudea

British Columbia's top doctor says COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings are expected to be gradually lifted next month, starting on Family Day.Dr. Bonnie Henry says that's possible in part because 90 per cent of residents aged 12 and over have received two doses of vaccine, though more people need to get a booster shot for longer-lasting protection.She says taking that step is necessary as new variants will surely emerge as immunity wanes and respiratory season in the fall again brings an increased risk of transmission.Henry says B.C.'s committee on immunization will be discussing a reco

The Government of Canada is taking a responsible, precautionary approach at the border to help protect Canadians from the global COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic continues to evolve, across the country and internationally, the Government of Canada will closely monitor and adjust measures at the border, as appropriate, to help keep Canadians safe.Today, the Government of Canada is providing an update on its border measures. It is:Removing, effective January 28, 2022, the modified pre-departure test requirements for travellers coming to Canada on direct or indirect flights from India or Morocc

B.C. is reporting 2,033 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 318,906 cases in the province.Note: The numbers of total and new cases are provisional due to a delayed data refresh and will be verified once confirmed.There are 29,556 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 284,832 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 977 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 141 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:685 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 12,351378 new cases in Vancouve

Police say two men and two women who were found dead at a home after a shooting in Richmond, B.C., were from the same family.Sgt. David Lee of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the identities of the four people aren't yet being released.He says one of the deceased had a valid firearms licence and access to guns.Lee says investigators have confirmed that the shooting was an isolated incident and no one else was involved.He say the deaths are not a result of intimate-partner violence.The two men and two women were found in the home Tuesday, although police have said they believed t

Police say four people were found dead at a home in Richmond, B.C., in what they describe as a targeted shooting.The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says officers were called to the home on Tuesday evening after receiving a complaint.Police have not released the identities of the victims but say it is believed they knew each other.Investigators say the shooting is not believed to be related to an ongoing gang conflict in the Lower Mainland.Police say the shooting is thought to have happened at about 7 p.m. on Monday.Investigators are asking for witnesses or anyone who may have video fro