Coronavirus

COVID-19 cases reported daily to B.C. public health, up to Dec. 2, 2021, seven-day moving average in white. B.C.’s infections have fallen to below last February, where the third wave took daily cases to their highest point. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)

B.C.’s daily COVID-19 cases dip below 300, fewer in hospital

11 deaths over weekend, 4 in Northern Health region

 

Merck corporate headquarters in Kenilworth, N.J. Merck & Co. is shown on May 1, 2018. Merck Canada announced it plans to manufacture it’s oral antiviral COVID-19 drug in Canada, making the country a global hub for the production of the potentially game-changing treatment. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Seth Wenig

Canada to manufacture Merck COVID-19 antivirals if regulator approves

Merck’s clinical trial showed a 50 per cent reduced risk of hospitalization or death

 

People travel at Pearson International Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Federal government says Canada border testing contracts worth up to $631 million

Contracts are split between three companies

 

Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland makes her way to the West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

MPs on finance committee ready for review of Liberals’ latest pandemic aid package

Proposed aid includes lockdown support and rent and wage subsidies for hard-hit businesses

Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland makes her way to the West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The Canadian junior women’s field hockey team got stuck in South Africa as Omicron-related travel restrictions went into effect. (Field Hockey Canada)

Canadian field hockey team gets travel exemption to leave South Africa

Canada’s junior women’s field hockey team was in South Africa for their age group’s World Cup

The Canadian junior women’s field hockey team got stuck in South Africa as Omicron-related travel restrictions went into effect. (Field Hockey Canada)
This Dec. 2, 2021 photo shows Main Street in Columbia, S.C., the temporary home of Miracle on Main pop-up Christmas bar. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Tracy Glantz, The State

Omicron variant casts doubt on Canadians’ hopes for a Christmas comeback

Festivities may have to be scaled back as Omicron stokes concerns about safety of holiday travel, gatherings

This Dec. 2, 2021 photo shows Main Street in Columbia, S.C., the temporary home of Miracle on Main pop-up Christmas bar. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Tracy Glantz, The State
Entrepreneur Lola Adeyemi poses with a few of her African soup products, which are now sold in Canadian grocery retailers, in Toronto on February 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

‘All our margins are gone’: Supply chain challenges squeeze small businesses

Prices are also climbing because Statistics Canada said the annual pace of inflation hit 4.7% last month

Entrepreneur Lola Adeyemi poses with a few of her African soup products, which are now sold in Canadian grocery retailers, in Toronto on February 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
(File photo)

B.C. chiropractic regulating body walks back motion against vaccine mandates

Health Minister Adrian Dix called the motion disappointing, not reflective of most chiropractors

(File photo)
Fraser Health registered nurse Kai Kayibadi draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. British Columbia has avoided a drop-off in vaccination uptakes in younger age groups, leading to optimism about its COVID-19 efforts, the head of a group representing thousands of B.C. doctors says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Booster doses for Surrey’s 70-plus population sees 50% jump since last week

First doses for 5-to-11 age group sees slow start

Fraser Health registered nurse Kai Kayibadi draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. British Columbia has avoided a drop-off in vaccination uptakes in younger age groups, leading to optimism about its COVID-19 efforts, the head of a group representing thousands of B.C. doctors says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in Vancouver, on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. British Columbia’s health minister says the province is “ahead of the curve” on recommendations by a national advisory group that Canadians 50 and older get a COVID-19 booster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. ahead of schedule on COVID-19 booster campaign: health minister

Already 470,000 people have had a third shot

British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in Vancouver, on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. British Columbia’s health minister says the province is “ahead of the curve” on recommendations by a national advisory group that Canadians 50 and older get a COVID-19 booster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. government has reported 405 new cases of COVID-19 in its Dec. 3 update. Pictured here, a traveller exiting the COVID-19 testing centre for arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Dec. 2. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. reports 405 new cases of COVID-19

Six new deaths from COVID-19, says ministry

The B.C. government has reported 405 new cases of COVID-19 in its Dec. 3 update. Pictured here, a traveller exiting the COVID-19 testing centre for arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Dec. 2. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Passengers make their way through Montreal-Trudeau airport in Montreal, on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Disease specialist says COVID-19 testing better than travel ban ‘whack-a-mole’

‘Look, I don’t think we’re going to be able to shut our border to this variant’

Passengers make their way through Montreal-Trudeau airport in Montreal, on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Public Services and Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi rises during Question Period, in Ottawa, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Tassi says Canada has signed agreements to buy up 1.5 million courses of oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada buying up to 1.5 million courses of oral antiviral drugs to fight COVID-19

Some hail antiviral drugs as a game-changer since they are designed to block viral replication

Public Services and Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi rises during Question Period, in Ottawa, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Tassi says Canada has signed agreements to buy up 1.5 million courses of oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
B.C.’s ambulance service has been stretched thin with COVID-19 and many calls to deal with drug overdoses, on top of the demands of an aging population. (Black Press Media)

B.C. adds paramedics, dispatchers, increasing treatment options

Firefighters can take blood pressure, prepare for transport

B.C.’s ambulance service has been stretched thin with COVID-19 and many calls to deal with drug overdoses, on top of the demands of an aging population. (Black Press Media)
A registered pharmacist technician carefully fills the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine at a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations is set to release new guidance this morning on the use of COVID-19 vaccine boosters as public health faces down the threat of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada’s vaccine advisory panel strongly recommends boosters for those 50 and up

Recommendations come after urgent federal request tied to fighting the new Omicron variant

A registered pharmacist technician carefully fills the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine at a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations is set to release new guidance this morning on the use of COVID-19 vaccine boosters as public health faces down the threat of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Anthony Rota is escorted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Erin O’Toole to the Speakers chair after being elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons Monday, November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Board exceeded its authority in imposing vaccine mandate for Commons: Speaker

Anthony Rota says only the House itself can make a decision to restrict access

Anthony Rota is escorted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Erin O’Toole to the Speakers chair after being elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons Monday, November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A traveller carrying luggage into the Edmonton International Airport on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. Confusion has been growing at some Canadian airports that say they want more direction from the federal government since it changed COVID-19 testing rules for travellers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Confusion at Canadian airports: Few details on COVID-19 testing rules for travellers

Few details on when testing sparked by Omicron variant will start

A traveller carrying luggage into the Edmonton International Airport on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. Confusion has been growing at some Canadian airports that say they want more direction from the federal government since it changed COVID-19 testing rules for travellers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Floor markers at Island Health COVID-19 testing clinic in Nanaimo. (Nanaimo News Bulletin)

B.C. COVID-19 infection rate holds steady, 368 for Thursday

Hospitalization declining, 5 more deaths recorded

Floor markers at Island Health COVID-19 testing clinic in Nanaimo. (Nanaimo News Bulletin)
Crews work on Coldwater Road, south of Merritt and parallel to the closed Coquihalla, on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

B.C. officials urge drivers to avoid travel, conserve gas even as 3rd storm passes

Although the sun is shining and the rain has stopped falling across…

Crews work on Coldwater Road, south of Merritt and parallel to the closed Coquihalla, on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
This map illustrates the number of active COVID-19 cases in Greater Vancouver from Nov. 21 to 27, 2021. (BC Centre for Disease Control image)

COVID-19 cases in Delta down after holding steady for three weeks

Delta had 14 cases for the week of Nov. 21 to 27; 171 fewer cases across the Fraser Health region

This map illustrates the number of active COVID-19 cases in Greater Vancouver from Nov. 21 to 27, 2021. (BC Centre for Disease Control image)