B-C is set to join Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario when it comes to offering residents 40 and older the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. The shift in vaccination plans comes as the province stares down new spiking numbers of COVID-19. B-C Premier John Horgan also says a new set of travel restrictions are coming into effect to prevent movement outside of health regions in the province
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says a child under the age of two has died as result of complications from the COVID-19 virus. Henry says the child lived in the Fraser Health region and had pre-existing health conditions. The announcement came as she reported the province recorded two-thousand-960 new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days and eight additional deaths.
B-C has nine-thousand-353 active cases of COVID-19 with 441 patients in hospital, including 138 in intensive care
Enforcing B.C.’s new COVID-19 travel restrictions may turn out to be a “logistical nightmare” according to a political analyst, and the details will be key. On Monday, Premier John Horgan announced B.C. will have roadside stops starting Friday through the May long weekend, to prevent people from leaving their health authority without a legitimate reason. The province is expected to provide more details on Friday about how people can prove their travel is essential, and what penalties people violating the rules will face. However, enforcement could prove problematic in B.C.’s more populated areas, according to University of the Fraser Valley political science professor Hamish Telford. The province must also consider how police in close communities like Metro Vancouver will coordinate. Telford doesn’t think the province is envisioning people having to have documents justifying their travel outside their immediate area like some European countries like France and Ireland had. Though he admits he is not a health official, he believes there are other measures the province could put in place to limit people’s social interactions “rather than calling in the police and stopping people from crossing Boundary Road or taking a two zone transit on the on the Skytrain.” Enforcements come into play starting this Friday and will contineu through the May long weekend.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. The jury deliberated about 10 hours over two days in a city on edge against another outbreak of unrest. At the Minneapolis intersection that has been dubbed George Floyd Square, about 100 people gathered around a large painting of Floyd. Floyd died last May after Chauvin, a white officer, pinned his knee on or close to the 46-year-old Black man’s neck for nine-and-a-half minutes. The case has triggered worldwide protests, violence and a furious re-examination of racism and policing in the U-S.
Canada is looking to expand international travel restrictions, as provinces also move to curb domestic travel. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this morning that the use of quarantine hotels for air travellers will continue for at least another month. He says Canada is also weighing further options to restrict travel from hot-spot countries. British Columbia is looking at roadblocks at ferry terminals or highways in and out of Vancouver.
Grammy-winning composer Jim Steinman has died at the age of 73. His brother says Steinman died yesterday from kidney failure and was ill for some time. Steinman wrote Meat Loaf’s bestselling “Bat Out Of Hell” debut album as well as hits for Celine Dion, Air Supply and Bonnie Tyler. Steinman won album of the year at the 1997 Grammy Awards for producing songs on Celine Dion’s “Falling Into You.”
Canada has hit a new milestone for COVID-19 vaccinations, even as rising cases prompt governments to consider new limits on travel both into and within the country. The number of people who have received at least one dose of a vaccine climbed over 9.5 million today — marking 25 per cent of the population. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the current requirements for air travellers entering Canada will remain until at least May 21st — and more restrictions may be coming. Ontario and Nova Scotia are barring entry to non-essential travellers who aren’t residents, while British Columbia is looking at doing periodic police roadblocks to prevent travel within the Province.
Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital after evidence of transmission in a medicine unit. “Five patients at Surrey Memorial Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 as part of this outbreak,” the health authority said in a news release this afternoon. The outbreak is limited to one unit, which is temporarily closed to admissions. “Upon declaring the outbreak, Fraser Health immediately implemented precautions, including enhanced cleaning as well as contact tracing to protect the health of all staff, medical staff, and patients.” The emergency department remains open, and there has been no impact to any other areas of the hospital.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin could be sent to prison for decades after he was convicted today of murder and manslaughter for the death of George Floyd. An attorney for Floyd’s family says the verdict is — quote —“a victory for those who champion humanity over inhumanity. Those who champion justice over injustice.” At the Minneapolis intersection where Floyd was pinned down, a crowd chanted, “One down, three to go!” It’s a reference to the three other fired Minneapolis police officers facing trial in August on charges of aiding and abetting murder in Floyd’s death.
The B.C. government has unveiled a FREE transit plan for kids – as part of their 2021 budget. The plan will cost the government $26 million per year and comes into effect in September of 2021.