British Columbia is tightening public health restrictions as it also introduces enhanced rapid testing and booster shot programs to fight the highly contagious COVID-19 Omicron variant. Starting at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centres and dance studios will have to close, and all seated events will be reduced to 50 per cent capacity. Indoor gatherings including weddings are being cancelled. The health orders allow restaurants and cafes to stay open, but seating will be limited to a maximum of six people at a table, and physical distancing must be followed. The new

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 2,550 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 228,335 cases in the province:Dec. 17-18: 911 new casesDec. 18-19: 832 new casesDec. 19-20: 807 new casesThere are 5,435 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 220,348 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 185 individuals are in hospital and 77 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the last 72 hours, three new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,402.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: oneNorthern Health: one

The Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) has reopened between Hope and Merritt to essential commercial vehicles only following a month of extensive repairs.The highway was closed by multiple washouts on Nov. 14, 2021."The people who build and maintain roads in B.C. have a reputation second to none, and their response to the recent disaster has been remarkable," said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. "Ministry teams, maintenance contractors and hundreds of workers going flat out in challenging conditions have allowed us to reopen the Coquihalla Highway today, giving B.C.’s

British Columbia is placing restrictions on events and gatherings until the end of January in an effort to limit the fast-spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant.Measures range from limits on venues that hold more than 1,000 people to 50 per cent capacity to no amateur sports tournaments over the Christmas period and the cancellation of all New Year's Eve parties.The Health Ministry says indoor gatherings, including those at rental or holiday properties, are also being limited to one household, plus 10 guests, and everyone must be vaccinated. The B.C. Vaccine card program must be used at all events

Canada's chief public health officer says all confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Canada are mild or asymptomatic. But Dr. Theresa Tam says most of the 300 plus Canadians who have contracted the variant are younger, and even a milder version of COVID-19 version could wreak havoc at a societal level. Tam says both vaccinated and unvaccinated people have tested positive for the Omicron variant. But she stresses that being fully vaccinated and then getting a booster is expected to provide reasonable protection against infection and likely strong protection against severe illness.

B.C. is reporting 753 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 224,998 cases in the province.There are 3,878 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 218,616 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 184 individuals are in hospital and 70 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, three new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,396.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: oneVancouver Coastal Health: oneIsland Health: oneThere have been 135 cases of the Omicron var

The Canadian military confirmed today that 21 of its 23 Cyclone helicopters have cracks in their tails. Cracks were first detected in one of the maritime helicopters during a routine inspection on Nov. 26 at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron at Patricia Bay, B.C. By Dec. 5, the Air Force said it had discovered damage in the same general area on a total of 19 helicopters. At the time, the military said two Cyclones did not appear to have any tail defects, and the remaining two in the fleet were receiving longer-term maintenance and would be inspected at a later date. As of today, cracks on six

The government now advises against all non-essential international travel in the face of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos made the announcement Wednesday, following a Tuesday evening meeting between premiers and the prime minister. The health minister says the highly transmissible variant is now spreading in Canadian communities, and just about anywhere else in the world. Ottawa agreed to send shipments of booster doses and rapid tests to provinces and territories to quickly ramp up vaccination campaigns to combat the virus at home. Minister

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released a fall economic statement today that outlined a better-than-expected economic rebound, but also billions more in spending, including on the response to the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Here are some other measures outlined in the fiscal update: Immigration backlogs - The federal government plans to put $85 million into plowing through massive backlogs in processing immigration applications starting in fiscal 2022-23. The government acknowledged the pandemic dramatically slowed down the pace of processing immigration applications, and many resources