COVID-19

A woman hugs another returning on one of the few overseas flight arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, Tuesday, March 14, 2023. China will reopen its borders to tourists and resume issuing all visas Wednesday after a three-year halt during the pandemic as it sought to boost its tourism and economy. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

China to reopen to tourists, resume all visas Wednesday

China will reopen its borders to tourists and resume issuing all visas…

 

FILE - A man walks by Pfizer headquarters, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in New York. Pfizer will spend about $43 billion to buy Seagen and broaden its reach into cancer treatments, the pharmaceutical giant said Monday, March 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Pfizer buys Seagen for $43B, boosts access to cancer drugs

Pfizer is spending about $43 billion to reach deeper into new cancer…

 

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says all British Columbians can “likely” get a COVID-19 boosters in the fall as part of a campaign that might become an annual ritual like the a flu-vaccination campaign.

B.C. announces spring COVID-19 boosters to be available soon

Henry also added that a fall booster will likely be available for all British Columbians

 

Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, says the Ministry of Health should have access to a registry of residents and staff in long-term care facilities as well as heath-care workers after concluding it sometimes “struggled” to collect reliable COVID-19 vaccination information for high-risk groups. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

B.C.’s auditor general says data gaps during COVID-19 vaccine rollout posed risks

Obstacles included staff turnover and a lack of data on privately funded facilities

Michael Pickup appears at the legislature in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Pickup, now British Columbia’s auditor general, says the Ministry of Health should have access to a registry of residents and staff in long-term care facilities as well as heath-care workers after concluding it sometimes “struggled” to collect reliable COVID-19 vaccination information for high-risk groups. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Three churches who challenged bans on group services during the COVID lockdowns are trying to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. (File photo by The Canadian Press)

Fraser Valley churches take COVID gathering ban appeal to top court

Langley, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack churches are seeking a Supreme Court of Canada hearing

Three churches who challenged bans on group services during the COVID lockdowns are trying to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. (File photo by The Canadian Press)
Hundreds of people march along Yale Road near Hodgins Avenue during a so-called Fraser Valley Freedom Rally on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

OPINION: The staggering socioeconomic costs of COVID anti-vaxxer behaviour

COVID-is-a-hoax crowd caused thousands more deaths, hundreds of millions in hospital costs: report

Hundreds of people march along Yale Road near Hodgins Avenue during a so-called Fraser Valley Freedom Rally on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)
A British Columbia advocacy organization says child poverty decreased in the province in 2020 due to government benefits launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the progress may be wiped out by rising living costs. A silhouette against the sky of a man holding a child in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, June 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Charlie Riedel

Pandemic benefits pushed down B.C.’s child poverty rate in 2020: advocacy group

Report shows 2020 child poverty rate was 13.3 per cent, a decrease from 18 per cent in 2019

A British Columbia advocacy organization says child poverty decreased in the province in 2020 due to government benefits launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the progress may be wiped out by rising living costs. A silhouette against the sky of a man holding a child in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, June 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Charlie Riedel
Highlight, a new disinfectant wipe system, has been implemented by Langley Memorial Hospital and other hospitals within the Fraser Health region to reduce the risk of infections. Staff here can be seen using the blue coloured wipes, which fade to clear if cleaning is thorough. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

Langley Memorial Hospital implements Highlight, a new disinfectant wipe system

Technique reduces risk of infections, says hospital management and company founders

Highlight, a new disinfectant wipe system, has been implemented by Langley Memorial Hospital and other hospitals within the Fraser Health region to reduce the risk of infections. Staff here can be seen using the blue coloured wipes, which fade to clear if cleaning is thorough. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
A COVID-19 test. Island Health workers are being urged to not get tested. (Black Press Media file photo)

CAMPBELL: Some sick B.C. health workers urged by bosses to not test for COVID-19

New Vancouver Island memo seems to run counter to provincial policy on isolation

A COVID-19 test. Island Health workers are being urged to not get tested. (Black Press Media file photo)
(Pastor Arthur Lucier/Instagram)

Lawyer questions consitutional right for B.C. pastor to be denied COVID appeal

Arthur Lucier wants to challenge the ‘constitutionality’ of 2021 Public Health Orders and his freedoms

(Pastor Arthur Lucier/Instagram)
Lindsay Faas works as a clinical counsellor and director of ThriveLife Counselling & Wellness. (Photo: my.thrive-life.ca)

‘Scary’ nursing staff shortages concern clinical counsellor who works with first-responders

‘There’s been a couple of borderline hospital shutdowns I’ve heard about,’ Lindsay Faas says

Lindsay Faas works as a clinical counsellor and director of ThriveLife Counselling & Wellness. (Photo: my.thrive-life.ca)
A health-care worker pushes a patient across a connecting bridge at a hospital in Montreal, Thursday, July 14, 2022. A new report says misinformation about COVID-19 contributed to more than 2,800 Canadian deaths and at least $300 million in hospital and ICU visits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

COVID-19 misinformation contributed to 2,800 Canadian deaths, report suggests

Findings: vaccine hesitancy affected more than 2.35 million people between March and November 2021

A health-care worker pushes a patient across a connecting bridge at a hospital in Montreal, Thursday, July 14, 2022. A new report says misinformation about COVID-19 contributed to more than 2,800 Canadian deaths and at least $300 million in hospital and ICU visits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Anti-vaccine mandate protest drew hundreds of people to the Pacific Highway border crossing in South Surrey. (DriveBC photo)

YEAR IN REVIEW: Five Surrey stories with ‘legs’ in 2022

Surrey’s policing transition, new city council, the cost of living, COVID-19 and the McCallum trial made all sorts of headlines this past year

Anti-vaccine mandate protest drew hundreds of people to the Pacific Highway border crossing in South Surrey. (DriveBC photo)
This photo provided by Amy Watson of Portland, Ore., shows her during an iron infusion in December 2022. Watson, approaching 50, says she has “never had any kind of recovery” from COVID-19. She has had severe migraines, plus digestive, nerve and foot problems. Recently she developed severe anemia. (Amy Watson via AP)

Long COVID: Could mono virus or fat cells be playing roles?

A British historian, an Italian archaeologist and an American preschool teacher have…

This photo provided by Amy Watson of Portland, Ore., shows her during an iron infusion in December 2022. Watson, approaching 50, says she has “never had any kind of recovery” from COVID-19. She has had severe migraines, plus digestive, nerve and foot problems. Recently she developed severe anemia. (Amy Watson via AP)
A passenger checks her phone as an Air China passenger jet taxi past at the Beijing Capital International airport in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. China will drop a COVID-19 quarantine requirement for passengers arriving from abroad starting Jan. 8. The National Health Commission announced the change Monday, Dec. 26, 2022 as part of the latest easing of China’s once strict virus control measures. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

China to scrap COVID-19 quarantine for incoming passengers

Country abruptly dropped many pandemic restrictions earlier this month

A passenger checks her phone as an Air China passenger jet taxi past at the Beijing Capital International airport in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. China will drop a COVID-19 quarantine requirement for passengers arriving from abroad starting Jan. 8. The National Health Commission announced the change Monday, Dec. 26, 2022 as part of the latest easing of China’s once strict virus control measures. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Movie theatre operator Rahim Manji outside the Hollywood 3 Cinema in Newton in June 2021. (File photo: Tom Zillich)

‘Hard decision’ to close doors of Surrey’s Hollywood 3 Cinema, says operator of movie theatre

Rahim Manji began operating the theatre in 2008, and it’s been around for close to three decades

Movie theatre operator Rahim Manji outside the Hollywood 3 Cinema in Newton in June 2021. (File photo: Tom Zillich)
Claire of Burnaby took part in the survey conducted by the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate in 2016-17. She found the experience very rewarding, as she connected with Cantonese-speaking seniors in their own language. (Special to The Star)

Asking long-term care residents their views

Comprehensive survey from Seniors’ Advocate seeks volunteers to connect with residents

  • Dec 5, 2022
Claire of Burnaby took part in the survey conducted by the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate in 2016-17. She found the experience very rewarding, as she connected with Cantonese-speaking seniors in their own language. (Special to The Star)
Rev. John Koopman of Free Reformed Church in Chilliwack who was found guilty of violating COVID-19 orders on religious gatherings. (Screenshot www.sermonaudio.com)

Fraser Valley pastor found guilty of hosting church service in violation of COVID rules

Rev. John Koopman’s lawyer to make Charter argument that prohibition violated freedom of religion

Rev. John Koopman of Free Reformed Church in Chilliwack who was found guilty of violating COVID-19 orders on religious gatherings. (Screenshot www.sermonaudio.com)
A health-care worker tests a woman at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre in Toronto on May 19, 2021. University of British Columbia researchers are looking for Canadians with long COVID to take part in a research project. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

UBC project seeks input from COVID long-haulers

Crowd-sourcing site allows people to compare their symptoms with those of others

A health-care worker tests a woman at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre in Toronto on May 19, 2021. University of British Columbia researchers are looking for Canadians with long COVID to take part in a research project. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Peace Arch Provincial Park re-opened on Monday, Oct. 24 after remaining closed all throughout the pandemic. (Sobia Moman photo)

Canadian side of Peace Arch Park finally re-opened — with new changes to accessibility

The park opened Monday (Oct. 24) after more than two years of closure

Peace Arch Provincial Park re-opened on Monday, Oct. 24 after remaining closed all throughout the pandemic. (Sobia Moman photo)