Fraser Health continues to see the most COVID-19 infections in B.C., recording 133 new cases in the past day. Our region also has nearly half of all of B.C.’s active cases with 2,157 . The remaining active cases are scattered fairly evenly across the other four health authorities. However, there were no deaths in Fraser Health reported yesterday. Four of the five people who died were in Northern Health, while another person in Interior Health also passed away.
Many parents in Surrey, which is home to B.C.’s largest school district, say they’re surprised and disappointed with the school board’s decision not to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers and staff. Some are angry and disappointed, saying younger children still can’t be vaccinated and this decision means their kids will remain vulnerable and at risk. Surrey Schools says it weighed the pros and cons of a vaccine mandate and paid particular attention to guidance from public health, which has not recommended a mandate at this point.
UBC is taking a large leap into North Surrey with an aim to better serve post-secondary education needs south of the Fraser River. The university is expanding its presence south of the river purchasing a 135,000-square foot property in Whalley for $70 million, at the southeast corner of King George and Fraser Highway. The focus on what selection of courses will be available at the Surrey site will be part of a public consultation which will happen next year.
Workers in Metro Vancouver need to be paid $20.52 per hour in order to meet all of their basic needs, according to the latest calculation from Living Wage for Families BC. The figure factors in the cost of things like rent, transportation, childcare, food, clothing, and telecommunications. This has risen 5.2 per cent from 2019, when it was last calculated. It’s also five dollars more per hour than the province-wide minimum wage.
Transport Canada says three B-C airports are among eight across the country that can accept international arrivals _ starting November 30th. A statement from the federal government says travel restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic are being eased on international flight arrivals at airports serving Abbotsford. Victoria and Kelowna. Right now, only 10 Canadian airports _ including Vancouver _accept international arrivals.
Premier John Horgan is working virtually _ attending meetings and briefings _ as he recovers from a biopsy last week on a growth in his throat. A statement from the premier’s office says Horgan is making good progress, although it doesn’t say when he might return to the office. Horgan is expected to provide further details in the coming days about the outcome of the biopsy and the need for any potential treatment.
It was easily the most fun night of hockey at Rogers Arena in at least 602 days. That’s the last time the Vancouver Canucks won a game that mattered in front of their fans, which they did last night 3-2 in OT against the New York Rangers.
Frequent COVID-19 testing is now an acceptable option for hospital workers in Ontario and Quebec who do not want to get vaccinated. The two governments made the announcement earlier today, dropping the mandatory vaccination requirement. In both cases, there was a growing concern that their health-care systems would face severe vaccine mandate-related staff shortages. Despite the change, Quebec officials say 97 per cent of health-care workers are vaccinated and Ontario officials note high vaccination rates and strong infection control measures in the province’s hospitals.
British Columbia’s environment minister says the province expects to make constant adjustments to its climate action plan as research and technology advance. George Heyman gave keynote remarks during a panel at the United Nations’ COP-26 Climate Summit in Scotland about the government’s Clean B-C Roadmap to 2030 today. He says they were met with enthusiasm from other leaders at the conference. The B-C government introduced its climate plan last week to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Surrey police have announced a new policy aimed at limiting hateful and abusive comments on its social media channels. The police service says its new social media policy means comments found to be hateful, derogatory, discriminatory or misleading will be removed. Media liaison Ian MacDonald says Surrey police wanted to be a conduit for free speech amid the controversy over its transition to a municipal force. But he tells CityNews 1130 that personal attacks began to increase on social media when officers would transfer from either the R-C-M-P or municipal agencies as the department started to grow.
The victim of shooting in Maple Ridge this week has been identified as a 57-year-old man, and police say he had no connections to Lower Mainland gang conflict. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the R-C-M-P responded to shots fired Monday evening and Daniel Delmark died despite efforts by first responders. Sergeant David Lee of I-HIT says Delmark wasn’t known to police and it’s very important that his friends and associates contact police. Any witnesses are being asked to provide information as officers are also seeking any video surveillance from around the area of the shooting (at Lougheed Highway around 100th and 102nd Avenue near 264th Street). (The Canadian Press)
Police in Richmond are urging drivers to be extra cautious in the fall weather after two people died in fatal collisions over 24 hours this week. R-C-M-P say drugs and alcohol don’t appear to have been factors but speed and driver inattention have not yet been ruled out though all drivers should take care as weather conditions may affect visibility. A crash yesterday resulted in one person being ejected from his vehicle and three others suffered life-threatening injuries following a two-vehicle collision. Police say the driver of a Honda C-R-V collided with a school bus a day earlier and was pronounced dead at the scene, but fortunately no children were on the bus at the time.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole is facing criticism from third-party supporters who suggest his caucus is not united behind his leadership. Sheldon Clare, president and C-E-O of the National Firearms Association, says unhappiness among gun owners has intensified since the election. He says the community reacted with anger and disgust during the September federal election campaign when O’Toole backtracked on his promise to repeal the Liberals’ ban on some 15-hundred types of “assault-style” firearms. Conservative M-Ps voted to give themselves the power to review O’Toole’s leadership, which would only happen if 20 per cent of them signed a letter to force a vote.
BC health officials announced 430 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 207,120. In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said that there are 4,373 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of the active cases, 137 individuals are currently in intensive care. A data error on Wednesday meant the total number of people in hospital was not available.
New cases and total active cases, broken down by health region, are as follows:
- Fraser Health: 202 new cases, 1,891 total active cases
- Vancouver Coastal Health: 56 new cases, 603 total active cases
- Interior Health: 88 new cases, 638 total active cases
- Northern Health: 37 new cases, 550 total active cases
- Island Health: 47 new cases, 632 total active cases
- Outside of Canada: No new cases, 59 total active cases
There have been six COVID-19-related deaths over the past 24 hours, for a total of 2,192 deaths in BC. From October 26 to November 1, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 65% of cases and from October 19 to November 1, they accounted for 72% of hospitalizations.
Past week cases (October 26 to November 1) – Total 3,732
- Not vaccinated: 2,206 (59%)
- Partially vaccinated: 200 (5.4%)
- Fully vaccinated: 1,326 (35.5%)
Past two weeks cases hospitalized (October 19 to November 1) – Total 449
- Not vaccinated: 296 (65.9%)
- Partially vaccinated: 29 (6.5%
- Fully vaccinated: 124 (27.6%)
Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (October 26 to November 1)
- Not vaccinated: 282.7
- Partially vaccinated: 69.5
- Fully vaccinated: 30.7
Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (October 19 to November 1)
- Not vaccinated: 57
- Partially vaccinated: 14.2
- Fully vaccinated: 2.8
To date, 90% of all eligible people 12 and over have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; 86% have received their second dose.