With only two months left in the school year, teachers in B.C.’s hottest pandemic zone are demanding more students be allowed to learn from home — especially in areas where exposure rates are high. The Surrey School District remains the hardest hit by COVID-19, even though thousands of people who work there have received their first dose of vaccine. Lisa Davis, who teaches science and chemistry at Fraser Heights Secondary, says most of the students are still at risk. Since September, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has been reluctant to close schools — saying kids are safer there than in the community, but teachers holding out hope stronger measures will be taken before the end of June — when it may be too late. Henry’s repeatedly said she believes children are safer staying in school than risking exposure in the community.
The Vancouver Canucks are set to return to action on Friday against Edmonton as the players fight to get back in game shape both physically and mentally after their COVID outbreak. Nine players were removed from the NHL’s COVID Protocol list Wednesday, but seven still remain. JT Miller was one of the few Canucks who did not contract the virus, and he feels he isn’t ready to play after three weeks off. “I can’t imagine guys that have had it and guys that are struggling to breathe getting up and downs steps to try and come back and perform. I am just worried about our team’s safety and the safety of our families,” he says Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting that Canucks players have met with the NHLPA. There is concern as they may have to embark on a track that would see them play19 times in a 31-day stretch. Miller says it’s simply unacceptable and putting the player’s safety at risk. Word is the discussions Wednesday were fairly productive, and the Players Association along with the NHL and the Canucks medical staff will continue to work to determine if the team is truly ready to roll by Friday night. Friday’s faceoff is set for 7 p.m.
B-C health officials are calling on everyone who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine to get one, as hospitalizations linked to the virus hit a new record high. The province confirmed 1 thousand 168 new cases and six deaths Wednesday. There are 397 people in hospital, surpassing a previous peak in December. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is available to anyone 55 and older through local pharmacies
highest cause of death in the province — with seven-thousand-and-24 deaths occurring in the past five years. Henry says decriminalization of drug possession and increased access to safer supplies are important initiatives but people with addiction issues also need help and supports.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says more contagious variants now make up about 60 per cent of daily COVID-19 cases in B-C. Henry is reporting a surge in the P-1 strain first identified in Brazil — saying it now accounts for 49 per cent of all variant cases while the U-K strain accounts for 50 per cent. She says the province likely has the largest proportion of P-1 variant cases, partly because it is testing more for that strain. Henry reported one-thousand-205 new cases of COVID-19 today, three new deaths and a record 409 people in hospital including 125 in intensive care.
Delta police say they have already received more reports of suspected hate crimes this year than for all of 2020. Deputy Chief Harj Sidhu says police have seen 15 cases from January through mid-April compared to 12 last year, including 10 incidents from March 29th to April 12th. Sidhu says racial slurs and anti-Semitic graffiti were the most common complaints among recent cases, but one person was also arrested in an assault involving racist remarks. He says the trend in Delta is not linked to anti-Asian hate crime that has been experienced in other jurisdictions of Metro Vancouver during the pandemic.
Three people were rushed to hospital in critical condition and a fourth person has less serious injuries following a crash on the Sea-to-Sky highway just north of Squamish. R-C-M-P say it happened at about 5 p.m. Wednesday, closing the route between Squamish and Whistler for more than five hours. A cause of the collision is still under investigation.
Surrey R-C-M-P say a 38-year-old man has been seriously wounded in an apparent targeted shooting. A statement from police says officers were called to a motel in the Whalley neighbourhood just before midnight and found the injured man. He remains in hospital. The investigation is just beginning, but police say the victim is known to them and because the shooting was likely targeted, officers say there is little risk to the general public.
A South Surrey restaurant is in the middle of a 10-day shutdown, following a closure order prompted by COVID-19. Fraser Health officials confirmed Wednesday (April 14) that the South Point Wendy’s location (3077 152 St.) was ordered closed on April 9 due to the virus. The order was made three days ahead of a new public health order coming into effect that allows WorkSafeBC to close a business down for at least 10 days if three or more staff contract COVID-19 on the job.