Dr.Bonnie Henry: “Today, we are reporting 656 new cases of COVID-19, including three epi-linked cases, for a total of 33,894 cases in British Columbia. Since we last reported, we have had 140 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 408 new cases in the Fraser Health region. There have been 16 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 457 deaths in British Columbia. As we acknowledge World AIDS Day and celebrate this Day of Giving, today is a day for kindness, compassion and giving back, despite the obstacles of COVID-19. It is a time for all of us to pause, to think about the many people throughout our province, our nation and the world who have been impacted by COVID-19 and other global epidemics. It is also a time to think about what we can do to make a difference. Let’s be resilient in face of this surge. United and together, let’s make an impact today through our own personal actions.”
The province has recorded its deadliest weekend of COVID-19, with 46 people losing their lives to the virus. The majority of those who died were residents in long-term care in the Fraser Health region. The record number of deaths comes as the province announces 2,364 new infections, which included nearly 300 that were not previously counted because of a data error. Since the first week of November, the number of patients hospitalized because of the virus has tripled, climbing to 316. Seventy-five of those patients are in the intensive care unit.
Hundreds of families across BC are participating in a protest today to keep kids home from school in a show of frustration over the province’s coronavirus back-to-school plan. The BC Student SICK Out has been planned by two moms in Langley and has more than 2,500 members on Facebook. They are trying to bring attention to schools and the safety measures that are not in place but are everywhere else. they are asking for masks, smaller class sizes and online learning options for everyone who would like it across the province.
Despite strict COVID-19 public health rules being in place, some Vancouver Police officers spent their weekend breaking up big parties, dealing with drunk people and handing out expensive fines. Police broke up three separate large parties and fines were issued at all three.
A North Vancouver man is warning others not to make the same mistake he and his family made – after a family birthday dinner became a superspreader event for COVID-19. Earlier this month, the man and six other family members gathered for his father’s 66th birthday. And not long after, him, his wife, mother, father, cousin, and his cousin’s daughter started experiencing symptoms and eventually tested positive for the coronavirus. Despite the recent order against social gatherings, he says they believed they would be okay since they regularly saw each other. Most of the family members have since recovered but his 66 year old father remains in critical condition.
It was certainly a tense night in Surrey, as city council held a virtual public hearing over next year’s proposed budget. At issue is a proposed 2.9 per cent increase to 2021 property taxes, and a controversial campaign promise from Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum to transition to a municipal police force, from the RCMP. Many of the comments from the public were highly critical of the mayor, who had no issues in cutting off several callers he deemed as unrespectful. The budget passed the Finance Committee by a 5-4 vote, but still needs approval from council.
TransLink is expanding it’s Reindeer Bus program this year to help deliver some extra cheer and smiles to people around the region. TransLink and says this year, there will be nine buses dressed up as reindeer, instead of the usual one. The annual initiative is all part of the Toys for Tots campaign, which will be running for the 35th year.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is guaranteed to receive some of the first doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine once it has been approved by Health Canada. That’s one of four vaccines the department is reviewing. At a news conference outside his house today, Trudeau told reporters that 80 per cent of money spent to support and protect Canadians has come from the federal government.
The 2021 Juno Awards are moving from March to May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers say moving the 50th anniversary show to a warmer month will let them include some unique outdoor programming. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences says it wants to create the best opportunity possible for artists, the community and dedicated fans.
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, British Columbia has reached new milestones in preventing HIV infections and improving the quality of life for people living with HIV. B.C. has surpassed a UNAIDS target and has seen a greater than 90% decrease in people living with and dying from AIDS. New HIV diagnoses have reached the lowest level, down by approximately 80% from the peak in 1987, when over 900 cases yearly were diagnosed in B.C. In addition, a new walk-in clinic on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is now open to support people living with HIV, opioid addictions, mental health and other health issues, including hepatitis C. The clinic is named Hope to Health Research and Innovation. People can walk into the clinic without an appointment to see a nurse, social worker or a doctor, as needed. The clinic can support people accessing medication for HIV and hepatitis C, as well as methadone and suboxone for opioid addictions. Take-home naloxone kits for treating overdoses from opioids such as fentanyl are also available. Other services include referral for treatment, counselling and other health services.
British Columbia’s parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives says the government will engage residents to create a new anti-racism act. Rachna Singh says in a statement that the government also plans to work with the province’s human rights commissioner and others to pave the way for race-based data collection. She says the goal is to reduce systemic discrimination in various sectors, including health care. Singh issued the statement following the release of a report by former judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond that found 84 per cent of Indigenous respondents reported some form of discrimination in health care.
The federal government expects the first vaccines for COVID-19 will be made available in the first three months of 2021. But there are still questions about who will get the shots first. Health Minister Patty Hajdu (HY’-doo) says those decisions will ultimately be made by the provinces and territories, with some input from Ottawa. Chief public health officer Doctor Theresa Tam says when looking at people experiencing the most severe illness from COVID-19, older Canadians are more at risk.
Christmas tree farmers across Canada predict the fir will be flying — along with the spruce and pine — this holiday season as tree sales are expected to hit record levels. The Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association warns consumers to expect to pay more — if they can find a tree — thanks to an ongoing shortage and increased demand from buyers seeking a little extra cheer in an already challenging holiday season. The shortage is a lingering effect of last decade’s recession that shuttered many tree growers, and because the average Christmas
tree needs at least a decade to mature, the ripples are still being felt. Some Canadian growers say the most sought-after tree varieties, such as Fraser fir, are selling for about 85-dollars, 20 dollars more than last year, and many expect their lots to be cleaned out before mid-month