Coronavirus

Royal City Youth Ballet’s performance of ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 7, 2019. Theatre and sports events with more than 50 people now require proof of vaccination and seating, but business holiday events can include standing and mingling. (Andrea Rondeau/Cowichan Valley Citizen)

Business holiday parties OK for more than 50, B.C. tourism group says

Standing, mingling allowed if you’re vaccinated for COVID-19

 

A security guard stands in position outside a ward being prepared for the Omicron coronavirus variant at Civil hospital in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. Within hours of the World Health Organization designating Omicron a variant of concern late last month, Moderna issued a press release telling the public it was already working on a vaccine booster that could target the new threat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ajit Solanki

Improvements to vaccine technology in COVID age could benefit future inoculations

One benefit to mRNA vaccines is how they are rapidly adaptable

 

Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Mark Holland speaks during a news conference on November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Liberals raise doubts of high number of vaccine exemptions among Conservatives

House leader calls for Conservative transparency about number of unvaccinated elected officials

 

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and vaccination lead Dr. Penny Ballem outline B.C.’s COVID-19 booster vaccine program, which begins booking third doses for people aged 65 and up this week. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. records 326 cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, one more death

New infections still mainly among unvaccinated people

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and vaccination lead Dr. Penny Ballem outline B.C.’s COVID-19 booster vaccine program, which begins booking third doses for people aged 65 and up this week. (B.C. government photo)
Brenda Fry. (Photo submitted)

Convoy pays fitting tribute to trucker’s wife

Numerous vehicles make quite a parade for Brenda Fry from Ladysmith to Crofton

Brenda Fry. (Photo submitted)
A lone traveler enters the Calgary International Airport on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

African community group says Canada’s new COVID-19 travel rules an example of racism

Members say some rules are being enforced with a different measuring stick for African countries

A lone traveler enters the Calgary International Airport on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A Lifelabs employee walks past a child waiting for his parents in the COVID-19 testing area for arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, December 2, 2021. All air travellers entering Canada, except for those coming from the U.S., are now required to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and isolate until they get their results, even if they are fully vaccinated against the virus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Omicron variant grows to 5 cases in B.C., but no serious illness reported: Dr. Henry

Illness for new COVID variant cases has been mild or asymptomatic

A Lifelabs employee walks past a child waiting for his parents in the COVID-19 testing area for arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Thursday, December 2, 2021. All air travellers entering Canada, except for those coming from the U.S., are now required to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and isolate until they get their results, even if they are fully vaccinated against the virus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie head for an update of the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, June 30, 2020. (B.C. government)

B.C. set to begin COVID-19 booster doses for ages 65 and up

Big group coming due 6 months after second vaccine

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie head for an update of the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, June 30, 2020. (B.C. government)
A hotel worker is seen in a hotel window in Mississauga, Ont. by the Pearson International Airport on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 as new air travel rules come into effect in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Canadian traveller forced to stay in quarantine facility after negative COVID-19 test

Canadians travelling from one of 10 African countries required to stay at a designated facility

A hotel worker is seen in a hotel window in Mississauga, Ont. by the Pearson International Airport on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 as new air travel rules come into effect in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
People pull up to the United States border as the land border opens to non-essential traffic, in Saint Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que., Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. Since the detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, a new poll suggests Canadians are ready to brace for the worst. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Most Canadians support strong border measures amid new Omicron COVID-19 variant: poll

68 per cent said they would approve of reintroducing social distancing and temporary lockdowns

People pull up to the United States border as the land border opens to non-essential traffic, in Saint Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que., Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. Since the detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, a new poll suggests Canadians are ready to brace for the worst. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
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

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)
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

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
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

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