Coronavirus

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announces bar closings and other restrictions for parts of northern B.C., Oct. 14, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. records 5 more COVID-19 deaths, 560 new cases Tuesday

Increase in hospital patients, 3 out of 4 not vaccinated

 

Avalynn Kwok, 4, walks with her dad, Manny Kwok, outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Mandatory COVID vaccines for B.C. kids ‘not something we’re considering’: Dr. Henry

Top doctor says B.C. kids have already had plenty of disruption to deal with in past 20 months

 

Ravi Kahlon, B.C. Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, has his provincial COVID-19 vaccine card scanned by White Spot restaurant general manager Bill Warwick, before having breakfast in Delta, B.C., on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. British Columbia's COVID-19 vaccine card system went into effect Monday. Anyone who wants access to a range of non-essential indoor services must show proof of at least one dose of vaccine, with a second shot required by Oct. 24. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. to lift capacity limits for indoor ticketed, organized events as of Oct. 25

Patrons will no longer always need to be seated at restaurants, although masks must be worn

 

Amanda Harrison holds her baby, Lake, outside her mother’s home in Phenix City, Ala., on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. Harrison was put on a ventilator and later life support after becoming ill with COVID-19 in her third trimester of pregnancy. Doctors delivered Lake at 32 weeks and put Harrison on a type of life support called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to save her. Harrison, who was unvaccinated, is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

COVID-19 and pregnancy: Women regret not getting the vaccine

At least 161 deaths of pregnant women from COVID-19 in the U.S. since pandemic began

Amanda Harrison holds her baby, Lake, outside her mother’s home in Phenix City, Ala., on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. Harrison was put on a ventilator and later life support after becoming ill with COVID-19 in her third trimester of pregnancy. Doctors delivered Lake at 32 weeks and put Harrison on a type of life support called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to save her. Harrison, who was unvaccinated, is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)
COVID-19 cases increased among children 5-11 years old during the first two weeks of the school year, primarily in regions with lower community vaccination. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)

COVID-19 cases in B.C. kids under 12 have peaked, in decline

Jump ‘strongly associated’ with more tests as school started

COVID-19 cases increased among children 5-11 years old during the first two weeks of the school year, primarily in regions with lower community vaccination. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)
A Victoria firefighter receives influenza vaccination in 2012. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. removes fees from influenza shot as part of COVID-19 effort

Health experts concerned about resurgence of seasonal flu

A Victoria firefighter receives influenza vaccination in 2012. (B.C. government photo)
FILE - In this May 12, 2021, file photo, San Jose Sharks’ Evander Kane (9) during an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights in San Jose, Calif. The NHL has suspended Kane for 21 games for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. The league announced the suspension without pay on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, and said Kane will not be eligible to play until Nov. 30 at New Jersey. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

NHL suspends Evander Kane 21 games after probe into fake COVID vaccine card

B.C.-born San Jose Sharks forward forfeits about $1.68 million after probe into fake vaccine card

FILE - In this May 12, 2021, file photo, San Jose Sharks’ Evander Kane (9) during an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights in San Jose, Calif. The NHL has suspended Kane for 21 games for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. The league announced the suspension without pay on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, and said Kane will not be eligible to play until Nov. 30 at New Jersey. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes questions in the legislature on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. The legislature has resumed sitting with most MLAs in attendance and vaccine required for all. (Hansard TV)

26 deaths, 1,846 new COVID-19 cases in B.C. over weekend

Four more outbreaks in long-term care since Friday

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes questions in the legislature on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. The legislature has resumed sitting with most MLAs in attendance and vaccine required for all. (Hansard TV)
FILE – A health-care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Thursday, January 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

51% of parents ready for COVID jab, as Pfizer asks for Health Canada OK to vaccinate kids

A total of 23 per cent said they would not vaccinate their kids, while nine per cent said they were ‘not sure’

FILE – A health-care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Thursday, January 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
In this image from video made available before the start of the convention, former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks during the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell dead from COVID-19 breakthrough

Powell died at age 84 from COVID-19 complications despite being fully vaccinated

In this image from video made available before the start of the convention, former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks during the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)
A portrait of Brig.-Gen. William Fletcher is shown in this August 27, 2020 handout image provided by DND. The senior military commander in Western Canada says he doesn’t expect much opposition from Canadian Forces personnel over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. THECANADIAN PRESS/HO-DND **

Senior army commander says 90% of military personnel are fully vaccinated

Members of the military have helped with both pandemic assistance and vaccine distribution across the country

A portrait of Brig.-Gen. William Fletcher is shown in this August 27, 2020 handout image provided by DND. The senior military commander in Western Canada says he doesn’t expect much opposition from Canadian Forces personnel over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. THECANADIAN PRESS/HO-DND **
A vaccine is prepared at a clinic in Dartmouth, N.S. on Thursday, June 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Vaccine allergy? Experts say most past reactions not valid reason for exemptions

Because mRNA jabs are different from typical ones, past reactions don’t usually come up again

A vaccine is prepared at a clinic in Dartmouth, N.S. on Thursday, June 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Jimmy Staveris, manager of Dunn’s Famous restaurant, scans the COVID-19 QR code of a customer in Montreal, Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Vaccine passports are emerging as the latest pandemic minefield for restaurant workers in Canada, one riddled with verbal abuse, sexual harassment, racism and forged documents. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Anger, abuse and racism: Restaurant workers struggle to enforce vaccine mandates

Vaccine passports have been another difficulty for an industry already mired in pandemic struggles

Jimmy Staveris, manager of Dunn’s Famous restaurant, scans the COVID-19 QR code of a customer in Montreal, Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Vaccine passports are emerging as the latest pandemic minefield for restaurant workers in Canada, one riddled with verbal abuse, sexual harassment, racism and forged documents. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Kim Lysak, assistant chief flight instructor with Aurora Aviation Academy flies over Chilliwack on Sept. 9, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. flight school expanding amid a global pilot shortage

COVID has decimated the industry but Aurora Aviation sees opportunity on the horizon

Kim Lysak, assistant chief flight instructor with Aurora Aviation Academy flies over Chilliwack on Sept. 9, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Two B.C. women file constitutional challenge of vaccine card

Claim says both women have medical issues tied to vaccinations

British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Fraser Health hosts same-day vaccine clinic at Newton Recreation Centre in Surrey, June 1, 2021. (Photo: City of Surrey)

B.C. reports 13 more COVID-19 deaths, 667 new cases Friday

Infection rate remains high in Northern Health region

Fraser Health hosts same-day vaccine clinic at Newton Recreation Centre in Surrey, June 1, 2021. (Photo: City of Surrey)
Ambulance paramedic in full protective gear works outside Lion’s Gate Hospital, March 23, 2020. Paramedics and hospital staff are required to be vaccinated as of Oct. 26. (The Canadian Press)

B.C. vaccination order extending to hospitals, community care

Dentists, doctors, nurses, mental health, ministry contractors

Ambulance paramedic in full protective gear works outside Lion’s Gate Hospital, March 23, 2020. Paramedics and hospital staff are required to be vaccinated as of Oct. 26. (The Canadian Press)
The International Rainbow Bridge connecting Niagara Falls, Ont. and Niagara Falls, N.Y. is shown on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. The United States border will reopen to non-essential travel in November to fully vaccinated Canadians after a record long closure due to concerns over COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Lynett

White House says U.S. land borders to reopen to vaccinated travellers Nov. 8

Travellers will need to show proof of vaccination upon request

The International Rainbow Bridge connecting Niagara Falls, Ont. and Niagara Falls, N.Y. is shown on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. The United States border will reopen to non-essential travel in November to fully vaccinated Canadians after a record long closure due to concerns over COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Lynett
A pop-up vaccine clinic stopped by Harrison Hot Springs in September. (Adam Louis/Agassiz-Harrison Observer)

Another 580 COVID-19 cases in B.C. Thursday, 9 deaths

Now 378 people in hospital as northern restrictions added

A pop-up vaccine clinic stopped by Harrison Hot Springs in September. (Adam Louis/Agassiz-Harrison Observer)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry have been working to contain COVID-19 transmission in Northern B.C. (B.C. government)

Northern B.C. COVID-19 restrictions don’t extend west of Kitwanga

Smithers, Prince George, Quesnel, Peace region see bars closing

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry have been working to contain COVID-19 transmission in Northern B.C. (B.C. government)