Ontario has reported two more cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus. Ontario had earlier reported Canada's first two cases of the Omicron variant of concern on the weekend. The total number of cases detected in Ontario has now reached 4. The province said today the two infected people were recently in Nigeria and were tested for the virus in Montreal before travelling on to Ottawa. Quebec health officials have also confirmed a case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Health Minister Christian Dubé made the announcement today at a news conference. Dubé says 115 people who recently tr

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 970 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 218,068 cases in the province:Nov. 26-27: 389 new casesNov. 27-28: 309 new casesNov. 28-29: 272 new casesThere are currently 2,882 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 212,704 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 303 individuals are currently in hospital and 115 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 72 hours, 11 new deaths have been reported, for a total of 2,333.The new deaths include

British Columbia's health minister says the government is pleased that so many parents are interested in ensuring their children are vaccinated for COVID-19. Adrian Dix says those who registered their children aged five to 11 should expect to receive an invitation to book an appointment starting Monday. Dix says about 104,000 children of that group are registered to get vaccinated of the 350,000 eligible to receive the modified dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Health Canada approved the pediatric shot for use in Canada after an independent scientific review confirmed the first vaccine for

British Columbia is extending fuel rationing until Dec. 14 until the Trans Mountain pipeline is back online after a series of devastating storms in the southern part of the province. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the province is also extending the state of emergency until the same date in order to ensure emergency services have the resources they need. The pipeline has been shut down since Nov. 14, when a storm known as an atmospheric river hammered parts of southern B.C., flooding communities, farmland and washing away roads and bridges. Energy Minister Bruce Ralston says the pi

Nations around the world are trying to keep the COVID-19 Omicron variant at bay with travel bans and further restrictions, even as it remains unclear what it means for the pandemic. Cases of the variant identified by researchers in South Africa have appeared from Hong Kong and Australia to Portugal. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says very little is known about the new variant. He says many of us might think we are done with COVID-19, but it's not done with us.Tedros issued the warning at a virtual three-day summit that has aims to establish an internatio

Surrey RCMP is cautioning members of the public following a series of robberies that originated through escort service sites.Recently, Surrey RCMP has seen a few instances of men hiring an escort, meeting at a prearranged location for a sexual encounter and then being robbed. It is believed that others may have been victimized but have not come forward to police. Surrey RCMP are encouraging any additional victims to contact police at 604-599-0502.Any encounters that involve meeting up with unknown individuals that take place behind closed doors, brings about inherent risk to all parties involv

Quebec health officials have confirmed a case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Health Minister Christian Dubé made the announcement today at a news conference. Dubé says 115 people who recently travelled to the province, principally from countries in southern Africa, have been asked to take a PCR test and to isolate. Ontario reported Canada's first two cases of the Omicron variant of concern on the weekend. The province said today the two infected people were recently in Nigeria and were tested for the virus in Montreal before travelling on to Ottawa.

The threat of flooding has closed another major section of Highway 1, this time between Abbotsford and Chilliwack. The closure came as floodwaters poured across the Canada-U-S border and after the region received more than 100 millimetres of rain over the weekend. The Transportation Ministry says Highway 1 also remains closed between just east of Highway 9 and Hope, through the Popkum-Bridal Falls area. Highway 7 remains open between Mission and Hope, however the ministry reminds travelers that restrictions remain in place on that stretch of highway.

B-C's public safety minister is advising against non-essential travel in the coming days as the province braces for the third in a trio of storms. Mike Farnworth says the government doesn't want any unnecessary road closures that would further strain resources. He advises those who must be on the road to drive carefully and never attempt to drive through flood waters because the depth isn't always obvious. He also suggests people prepare for emergencies by carrying food, water, warm clothes, blankets and well stocked emergency kits in their vehicles.