Premier John Horgan has announced a gradual COVID-19 re-opening plan with a target of September 7th for the province to get back to normal. The first phase of the four-step plan started today with the resumption of indoor and outdoor dining at bars and restaurants for up to six people and indoor gatherings with up to five visitors. Provincial travel restrictions could be lifted as soon as June 15th, with July 1st the earliest date for recreational travel to resume within Canada. Horgan says B-C’s strong immunization rate allows the province to slowly bring people back together and more limits will be removed as vaccination rates increase.
Also in yesterday’s press conference: B-C health officials reported 289 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, the lowest daily count since late October, following a four-step reopening plan. Officials also reported one fatality, bringing the province’s total number of COVID-19 deaths to one-thousand-680. They say about 65 per cent of all eligible people have received their first dose of the vaccine.
B-C’s homicide team say they have identified the victim in Saturday’s fatal shooting in Coquitlam. Police say 42-year-old Aali Hussain is known to them, but they don’t know yet if his death is related to an ongoing gang conflict. They say a stolen 2002 red Buick Century with at least two people inside left the scene following the shooting and it’s believed the suspects were inside. The same car was found the next day by Langley R-C-M-P and police say it had been reported stolen from a Surrey neighbourhood on the same day as the shooting.
The debate over whether to turn Marine Drive into a one-way route might be back on the table now that the province has lifted restrictions on indoor dining – according to one council member, at least. Tuesday afternoon, Premier John Horgan and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the province’s four step restart plan. Step one of the plan, which started May 25, allows indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants as long as there’s an existing WorkSafeBC safety plan in place. Restaurants are also to be mindful of table spacing and other COVID-19-related safety guidance, such as masks and physical distancing. At its regular council meeting May 10, White Rock council voted to close the north lane of Marine Drive until the end of September. It was the second time council voted on the matter, resulting in a 6-1 decision. The move was aimed at allowing waterfront restaurants more table space to offset a severe and continuing threat to the survival of the businesses as a result of provincial health orders banning inside dining.
Vancouver police say they handed out multiple tickets for violations of COVID-19 restrictions after getting complaints about a loud party on the weekend. Police say they went to a residence in downtown Vancouver at about 1:00 a-m on Sunday. They say residents refused to open the door so police got a search warrant to enter the suite where they found a party that violated the ban on social gatherings. The host was handed a two-thousand-300-dollar ticket while 16 others were each given 575-dollar tickets.
B-C health officials reported 289 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, the lowest daily count since late October, following a four-step reopening plan. Officials also reported one fatality, bringing the province’s total number of COVID-19 deaths to one-thousand-680. They say about 65 per cent of all eligible people have received their first dose of the vaccine. Officials say the plan of easing restrictions begins today and affects gatherings, sports events and dining, both indoors and Outdoors.
Police say the captain of a fishing vessel that crashed into some rocks at the mouth of the Fraser River in Richmond, B-C, appeared to be operating the ship while intoxicated. Richmond R-C-M-P say they responded to a report of a vessel operating erratically on May 17th in Stevenson Harbour. They say they found a 17-metre fishing boat that had run aground on some rocks. Police say the two men on board were uninjured, but it appeared that both men were impaired by alcohol and drugs. The 48-year-old vehicle operator from Surrey, B-C, was briefly detained by police and they say he faces possible charges including operating a vessel while impaired
B-C has deployed 41 firefighters and two support staff to help Manitoba battle several active wildfires. The B-C Wildfire Service says it has the capacity to help because most of the 250 blazes reported in the province since the start of the fire season in March are listed as out. A statement from Forests Minister Katrine Conroy says the province welcomes the chance to share firefighting resources with other jurisdictions. The Forests Ministry says the B-C team will remain in its own bubble and operate separately from Manitoba firefighters to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A four-step plan in B-C to ease out of the COVID-19 pandemic could mean live entertainment, meeting friends for dinner and wearing a mask as a matter of choice by September 7th. Premier John Horgan says the province’s strong immunization rate allows it to slowly bring people back together, with a target date for the final phase of the plan to be implemented the day after Labour Day. But Horgan says the success of the rollout will depend on progress to reduce COVID-19 infection rates. He says health officials will be watching COVID-19 case counts and possible transmission events to ensure the province can meet the plan’s progressive targets set for June, July and September.
The provincial health officer says restrictions removed starting yesterday include allowing indoor and outdoor dining for up to six people, indoor gatherings with five personal visitors and in-person faith-based gatherings, at reduced capacity. Doctor Bonnie Henry says to prevent potential COVID-19 spread in communities, provincial travel restrictions will not be lifted until June 15th at the earliest, with recreational travel permitted only within residents’ regions. Mike McNaney, president of the National Airlines Council of Canada, says B-C’s plan gives clarity to the industry and consumers. The Surrey Board of Trade says timely communication gives businesses a chance to prepare for the staff and supplies they will need in the near future.
Health authorities say more than half of all people in Canada have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Twenty-million people have now had a shot, close to two-thirds of those aged 12 and older, Children under 12 won’t be eligible for several more months. Canada is now among the top five countries in the world for the percentage of population with at least one dose — ahead of the U-S. But it lags behind the U-S and other countries when it comes to the number of fully vaccinated people.
Surrey Mounties are adding a “Shattering the Image” anti-gang presentation to its series of virtual speaker webinars. This one will be hosted by Sergeant Mike Sanchez, of the Surrey RCMP Gang Enforcement Team, at 6 p.m. on June 3. Constable Sarbjit Sangha said this particular webinar is “tailor made for youth in Surrey” and aims to educate and equip young people to make wise choices as well as instruct adults on warning signs and “strategies for talking to kids.” Sangha said participants must register by May 31 using the following link: E_Surrey_Community_Programs_Requests@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.