BC legislature

Fraser Valley Bandits mascot Berry helps out at Maple Ridge COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Haney Place Mall on Tuesday, as a little boy received his jab from pharmacist immunizer Ana Costa. Berry was handing out stickers. (Colleen Flanagan/Maple Ridge News)

B.C. COVID-19 hospital cases rise, but few more in intensive care

Many testing positive after being admitted for other conditions

Fraser Valley Bandits mascot Berry helps out at Maple Ridge COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Haney Place Mall on Tuesday, as a little boy received his jab from pharmacist immunizer Ana Costa. Berry was handing out stickers. (Colleen Flanagan/Maple Ridge News)
A kitten interacts with a human as folks take part in Yoga with Cats on Mats at the Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven, 2019. Indoor yoga, gyms and dance studios have been shut down since before Christmas by a COVID-19 public health order. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. reopening gyms, fitness on Thursday with COVID-19 precautions

Spacing required for group and individual workouts, no fans or heaters permitted

A kitten interacts with a human as folks take part in Yoga with Cats on Mats at the Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven, 2019. Indoor yoga, gyms and dance studios have been shut down since before Christmas by a COVID-19 public health order. (Jenna Hauck/Chilliwack Progress)
Juilet Bridge on the Coquihalla highway. (B.C. Transportation)

B.C.’s Coquihalla Highway reopening to all traffic Wednesday, caution advised

Hope to Merritt will take 45 minutes longer than usual

Juilet Bridge on the Coquihalla highway. (B.C. Transportation)
Fraser Canyon whitewater rafting businesses are among those eligible for support under the B.C. government’s latest tourism and accommodation assistance program. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. hotel, tourism operators offered property tax, hydro assistance

Park-use fees waived for fishing, hunting, rafting, heli-skiing

Fraser Canyon whitewater rafting businesses are among those eligible for support under the B.C. government’s latest tourism and accommodation assistance program. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes questions about the B.C. Centre for Disease Control’s latest analysis of COVID-19 health impact, Vancouver cabinet offices, Jan. 14, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. counts 5,625 more COVID-19 cases since Friday, 819 in hospitals

All infections in hospital now counted as coronavirus cases

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes questions about the B.C. Centre for Disease Control’s latest analysis of COVID-19 health impact, Vancouver cabinet offices, Jan. 14, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
B.C. gymnasiums, yoga studios and other indoor fitness facilities have been closed since Dec. 21 as part of COVID-19 public health orders. The current order expires Jan. 18, 2022. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)

B.C. fitness facilities call for COVID-19 closures to be ended

Some defy order, call for evidence that they are a health risk

B.C. gymnasiums, yoga studios and other indoor fitness facilities have been closed since Dec. 21 as part of COVID-19 public health orders. The current order expires Jan. 18, 2022. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)
Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. B.C. hospitals are changing their method of counting COVID-19 cases to include those who are admitted for other medical conditions and then test positive in screening. (Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. shifting reporting to identify COVID-19-caused hospital admissions

Hospital cases jump, but up to half admitted for other conditions

Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. B.C. hospitals are changing their method of counting COVID-19 cases to include those who are admitted for other medical conditions and then test positive in screening. (Williams Lake Tribune)
Tracking of COVID-19 case spread in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions shows similar pattern to that of other urban regions that are ahead of B.C. in the spread of the Omicron variant. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)

B.C.’s Omicron wave following world pattern of peaking, declining

Most severe illness still from Delta variant of COVID-19

Tracking of COVID-19 case spread in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions shows similar pattern to that of other urban regions that are ahead of B.C. in the spread of the Omicron variant. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announce expansion of COVID-19 booster shots to pharmacies, Victoria, Dec. 14, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C.’s records record-high COVID-19 hospitalizations with 534 on Thursday

7 more deaths, five more outbreaks in health care

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announce expansion of COVID-19 booster shots to pharmacies, Victoria, Dec. 14, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
A truckload of B.C. lumber heads to the United States, which has imposed steep border duties on standard construction lumber that is in short supply as timber cutting restrictions increase. (Resource Works Society)

B.C.’s value-added forest industry pleads for old-growth wood

‘We’re talking months until we’re running out’

A truckload of B.C. lumber heads to the United States, which has imposed steep border duties on standard construction lumber that is in short supply as timber cutting restrictions increase. (Resource Works Society)
RBC Dominion Securities analyst Paul Quinn, Truck Loggers Association executive director Bob Brash and consultant Russ Taylor speak to delegates at the association’s virtual convention, Jan. 12, 2022. (TLA video)

Forest industry analysts paint grim picture for B.C. investment future

Old growth restrictions threaten value added, truck loggers told

RBC Dominion Securities analyst Paul Quinn, Truck Loggers Association executive director Bob Brash and consultant Russ Taylor speak to delegates at the association’s virtual convention, Jan. 12, 2022. (TLA video)
Eric Aviles, age 6, receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from pharmacist Sylvia Uong at a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 in Santa Ana, Calif., Nov. 9, 2021. Vaccines for children are being administered at community clinics in B.C.(Associated Press/Jae C. Hong)

B.C. COVID-19 case decline continues, 2,239 cases for Tuesday

Hospitalization continues to go up, 4 more health care outbreaks

Eric Aviles, age 6, receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from pharmacist Sylvia Uong at a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 in Santa Ana, Calif., Nov. 9, 2021. Vaccines for children are being administered at community clinics in B.C.(Associated Press/Jae C. Hong)
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry updates COVID-19 efforts, Vancouver, Dec. 29, 2021. (B.C. government)

B.C. vaccine protection holding as Omicron spreads, Dr. Henry says

60-70% less likely to land in hospital with two COVID-19 shots

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry updates COVID-19 efforts, Vancouver, Dec. 29, 2021. (B.C. government)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes questions from reporters in Vancouver about the return to classroom instruction in schools, Jan. 7, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. counts almost 7,000 cases over weekend, hospitalization jumps

7 more COVID-19 outbreaks in senior homes, 7 more deaths

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix takes questions from reporters in Vancouver about the return to classroom instruction in schools, Jan. 7, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
Hospital staff deal with potential COVID-19 infection with hygiene, distancing and curtains while awaiting test results (ASSOCIATED PRESS/Darron Cummings)

Most new B.C. COVID-19 infections now in fully vaccinated people

Protection against severe illness still shown in statistics

Hospital staff deal with potential COVID-19 infection with hygiene, distancing and curtains while awaiting test results (ASSOCIATED PRESS/Darron Cummings)
Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston holds up a COVID-19 rapid test kit, December 2021. B.C. is also using self-administered rapid tests for remote and Indigenous communities, and expects to have tests available for parents and school staff by mid-January. (CYFN/Facebook)

COVID-19 business plans ordered reinstated for all B.C. companies

Nine more deaths, hospitalizations and ICU up again Friday

Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston holds up a COVID-19 rapid test kit, December 2021. B.C. is also using self-administered rapid tests for remote and Indigenous communities, and expects to have tests available for parents and school staff by mid-January. (CYFN/Facebook)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside speak about COVID-19 measures in B.C. schools at the Vancouver cabinet offices, Dec. 29, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. to deploy rapid COVID-19 tests for school staff when they arrive

Expansion to students with symptoms depends on supply: Henry

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside speak about COVID-19 measures in B.C. schools at the Vancouver cabinet offices, Dec. 29, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Vaccine clinic at Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt opens on Jan. 7. B.C. health authorities are reopening community vaccination centres as booster shots and vaccination for children aged 5-11 continue. (Bailey Moreton/Goldstream News)

B.C. records 3,223 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, more in ICU

Hospital cases creep up as official active cases pass 31,000

Vaccine clinic at Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt opens on Jan. 7. B.C. health authorities are reopening community vaccination centres as booster shots and vaccination for children aged 5-11 continue. (Bailey Moreton/Goldstream News)
A resident at Langley Lodge, one of B.C.’s senior care homes. (Troy Landreville/Langley Advance Times)

Loved ones turned away from B.C. senior homes, advocate says

‘Essential’ still at discretion of care home administrators

A resident at Langley Lodge, one of B.C.’s senior care homes. (Troy Landreville/Langley Advance Times)
COVID-19 testing site at Victoria Conference Centre. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

COVID-19 test demands lead to threats against B.C. health staff

‘If you do not have symptoms you don’t need to be tested’

COVID-19 testing site at Victoria Conference Centre. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)