The B-C government says the number of people booking their first COVID-19 shot has made a “significant” jump after the province announced proof of vaccination will soon be required to access a range of indoor activities. The Health Ministry says nearly 95-hundred people booked their shot Tuesday, an increase of 124 per cent from just over 42-hundred bookings last week. It says there was a particular increase among people under the age of 40. As of September 13th, B-C residents must show proof of having recieved at least one vaccine dose to eat at a restaurant, go to a movie or attend a sporting event. After October 24th, they must be fully vaccinated
The vast majority of the remaining Canadian personnel have been evacuated from Taliban-controlled city of Kabul. Canada’s acting Chief of Defence Staff says the armed forces wishes it could have saved everyone. Evacuation operations have ended, and the final flight left in the last eight hours. There is a small liaison team on the ground to help with coordination to help allies for the next day or two. Canada says it will now focus its efforts on helping 20,000 refugees settle in the country.
Someone drew a swastika on a federal election sign in Surrey. Randeep Sarai, the Liberal Party incumbent candidate in Surrey Centre, posted a photo of it to his Twitter account on Wednesday (Aug. 25). It appears someone drew the Nazi symbol on the sign with a black marker. “I am disappointed to see that one of my signs was defaced, yesterday in #SurreyCentre,” Sarai posted. “This behaviour is intolerable. I deplore this sort of anti-Semitic behavior, I know my neighbors will join me in calling it out. Let’s move forward with kindness and constructive discussion.” On the social media platform, reaction was mixed.
A quiet residential street quickly turned into a chaotic scene Wednesday morning, with some people screaming obscenities as Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and South Surrey-White Rock candidate Gordie Hogg made a campaign stop in South Surrey. Trudeau and Hogg, a former mayor, MLA, and MP for the White Rock area, visited a home near 17 Avenue and 143 Street as part of campaign announcement about housing. It was Trudeau’s third visit to the Semiahmoo Peninsula since he was first elected prime minister in 2015. The first two times he visited, both in 2017, he was greeted by a cheering crowd of some 1,000 people asking for autographs and taking pictures. While Trudeau was speaking to media in the backyard of the home, a group of protesters gathered out front, screaming obscenities and anti-vaccine rhetoric, along with widely debunked conspiracy theories, such as suggesting Fidel Castro is Trudeau’s father. While a small group of people appeared to be there to support Trudeau, they were outshouted by the protesters.
Interior Health is continuing to lead the way for new COVID-19 cases in B.C., but Fraser Health isn’t far behind. The province recorded a total of 698 new cases in the past day, 252 of which were within the Interior Health region. There were 203 new infections in the Fraser Health region. There was one new death in the past day, recorded in Fraser Health, for an overall total of 1,802 since the pandemic began. Looking at the timeframe from Aug. 10 to Aug. 23, the province says people who were not fully vaccinated made up 83.3 per cent of cases and 85 per cent of hospitalizations. On Wednesday, the province’s latest mask mandate came back into effect due to the rising case numbers. Masks are required for people aged 12 and up in indoor public spaces province-wide, including on transit and BC Ferries. The provincial mask order will be reassessed as B.C.’s requirement for proof of vaccination in certain indoor settings comes into effect starting next month.
BC health officials announced 724 new test-positive COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 162,693. In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said that there are 5,640 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of the active cases, 149 individuals are currently hospitalized, 83 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. New cases, as well as total active cases broken down by health region, are as follows:
- Fraser Health: 185 new cases, 1,319 total active cases
- Vancouver Coastal Health: 142 new cases, 1,432 total active cases
- Interior Health: 271 new cases, 2,014 total active cases
- Northern Health: 62 new cases, 361 total active cases
- Island Health: 64 new cases, 502 total active cases
- Outside of Canada: No new cases, 12 total active cases
There have been two new COVID-19-related deaths in Interior Health, for a total of 1,804 deaths in British Columbia. Between August 11 and 24, people not vaccinated accounted for 82.4% of cases and 86.4% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (August 18 to 24) – Total 4,413
- Not vaccinated: 3,131 (70.9%)
- Partially vaccinated: 509 (11.5%)
- Fully vaccinated: 773 (17.5%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (August 11 to 24) – Total 199
- Not vaccinated: 157 (78.9%)
- Partially vaccinated: 15 (7.5%)
- Fully vaccinated: 27 (13.6%)
Past week cases per 100,000 population (August 18 to 24)
- Not vaccinated: 199.5
- Partially vaccinated: 111.9
- Fully vaccinated: 24.6
To date, 83.7% of all eligible people 12 and over have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; 75.6% have received their second dose. 155,096 people who tested positive have now recovered.
Canadians who want to travel to Britain will not be required to quarantine upon arrival as of Monday. That’s regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The British Department for Transport is moving Canada to its “green” list. Travellers from Canada will still need to take COVID-19 tests within three days before leaving for the U-K and another two days after arriving.
The number of wildfires in B-C has fallen below 250. Emergency Management B-C says there are about 240 active wildfires with 22 of them being of note, which means they are highly visible or which pose a potential threat to public safety. The B-C Wildfire Service says some of the major blazes _ such as White Rock Lake, Tremont Creek and Lytton Creek _ are still classified as out of control. The service says wind fanned the flames of the Mount Law wildfire late yesterday, and it is estimated to be about eight square kilometres and classified as out-of-control. (The Canadian Press)
Fraser Health says COVID-19 vaccines will be available at a number of post-secondary school campuses. Students and staff are invited to attend the on-campus clinics to receive their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The health authority says students, staff, friends and family are welcome to attend these clinics to get their first or second doses. The B-C government says there has been a significant increase in the number of people booking their COVID-19 vaccines after the province announced proof of vaccination will soon be required to access a range of indoor activities.
Surrey R-C-M-P say they arrested three men who they believe have ties to gangs in the Lower Mainland and seized a loaded gun on Saturday. Mounties say officers tried to stop the men when they saw them breaking traffic rules but the suspects fled. They say the suspects abandoned their vehicle in traffic and tried to run away when they were chased by officers on foot. Police say charges have not yet been laid.