New modelling from the province shows COVID-19 outcomes in B.C. are divided into two distinct groups: those who have been vaccinated and those who have not. Those who aren’t fully vaccinated are 50 times more likely to end up hospitalized with the virus. They’re also 46 times more likely to die than their vaccinated counterparts, and 10 times more likely to become infected. Fraser Health once again recorded the most new COVID-19 cases compared to provincial health authorities in the province Thursday, with 222 of the 596 province-wide.
Doctor Bonnie Henry is encouraging older residents, in particular, to get COVID-19 booster shots when they’re eligible. She says age is the biggest single factor in contracting the virus because it limits people’s ability to mount strong immunity over a long period of time. Health Minister Adrian Dix says 98 per cent of people in long-term care homes have received a booster shot, and seniors in the community should also be getting that extra protection before the general population is eligible. Just over 90 per cent of British Columbians aged 12 and up have now received their first dose of vaccine, and 85.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.
B.C. Premier John Horgan has announced the lump he discovered in his throat a few months ago is cancer. Horgan underwent surgery and a biopsy last Friday. In a statement yesterday, he says the pathology confirmed the growth in his throat is cancerous. He goes on to say “My prognosis is good and I expect to make a full recovery,” He is set to begin radiation treatment in the coming weeks, during which time he says he will participate in meetings and briefings virtually.
Canada’s chief public health officer says the country is bending the curve on the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but progress has recently slowed. Dr. Theresa Tam says we could still see what she calls “bumps in the tra-jec-tory” over the next few months. Tam says national, reported cases are now most common among children under the age of 12 _ the only age group that does not yet qualify to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Police are issuing a public safety warning after an elderly man was left hospitalized following a random, violent home invasion in South Vancouver last week. It happened at around 4:30 p.m. on Friday at a home near E. 35 Avenue and Victoria Drive, where a man got inside through an unlocked door. Police say the elderly man was attacked when he confronted the intruder. Police have shared video footage of the suspect, who is seen wearing a red vest , blue jeans, boots, a dark long-sleeved, shirt, and a white hat. The victim remains in the hospital in serious condition.
The province has announced 197 temporary shelter spaces in Surrey – with all of them in the city’s north end. The 197 spaces are part of more than 1,900 temporary shelter spaces and nearly 360 extreme-weather response shelter spaces the government is providing throughout the province. The province notes more temporary shelters may be added throughout the season. The temporary shelters will be open every night during the season.
Pfizer is joining the race to bring the first easy-to-use treatment for COVID-19 to the U-S market. The company’s Pfizer’s experimental antiviral pill showed strong protection from COVID-19’s worst effects. Competitor Merck’s COVID-19 pill is already under review at the U-S Food and Drug Administration.
BC health officials announced 549 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 208,265. In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said that there are 4,483 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of the active cases, 441 individuals are currently in hospital, 129 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
New cases and total active cases, broken down by health region, are as follows:
- Fraser Health: 184 new cases, 1,903 total active cases
- Vancouver Coastal Health: 78 new cases, 601 total active cases
- Interior Health: 110 new cases, 686 total active cases
- Northern Health: 102 new cases, 627 total active cases
- Island Health: 73 new cases, 605 total active cases
- Outside of Canada: No new cases, 61 total active cases
There has been one COVID-19-related death over the past 24 hours, for a total of 2,201 deaths in BC. From October 28 to November 3, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 65.3% of cases, and from October 21 to November 3, they accounted for 71.1% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (October 28 to November 3) – Total 3,366
- Not vaccinated: 2,017 (59.9%)
- Partially vaccinated: 181 (5.4%)
- Fully vaccinated: 1,168 (34.7%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (October 21 to November 3) – Total 456
- Not vaccinated: 294 (64.5%)
- Partially vaccinated: 30 (6.6%)
- Fully vaccinated: 132 (28.9%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (October 28 to November 3)
- Not vaccinated: 254.8
- Partially vaccinated: 62.3
- Fully vaccinated: 27
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (October 21 to November 3)
- Not vaccinated: 57
- Partially vaccinated: 16
- Fully vaccinated: 3
To date, 90.2% of all eligible people 12 and over have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; 85.7% have received their second dose.
Just in time for Remembrance Day, a new cenotaph has been installed at Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery, across from Victory Memorial Park in south Surrey. A statement from the City of Surrey says the cenotaph is part of a new memorial garden. It was built with the help of Veterans Affairs Canada and the Last Post Fund after the former cenotaph — built in 1955 — was found to be unstable and had to be removed. The city says the three aluminum memorial arches of the new monument are designed to allow visitors to walk through while reflecting on the sacrifices of Canadian and Allied veterans who served in times of war and peace.
Statistics Canada says the economy added 31-thousand jobs in October. That brings the national unemployment rate to a pandemic era low. Desjardins chief economist Jimmy Jean (ZHAWN’) says the results are something to celebrate. Jean adds that October’s increase may foreshadow the pace of gains in the coming months.
A 50-year-old man who allegedly went on a window-smashing spree in Vancouver’s West End has been arrested. Police say the suspect caused thousands of dollars in damage on Wednesday. Sergeant Steve Addison says officers were deployed throughout the downtown core in September in response to concerns about rising crime and public safety, and those efforts are starting to pay off. Police say since August, an average of 11 reports a week have been filed by business owners who’ve had their windows smashed.
The Le Chateau brand is returning to Canada this month under new ownership. The iconic fashion brand was acquired by Toronto-based YM Inc. over the summer. A new Le Chateau website will launch this month and in-store distribution for the brand will commence in the spring of 2022.