COVID-19 update: B.C. adds 358 cases as some regional restrictions extended
The B.C. government announced 358 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, shortly after health officials confirmed some regional restrictions would be continuing through the holiday season.
The update from the Ministry of Health caused the province's seven-day average for infections, which has been trending downward for weeks, to increase slightly to 345 per day.
The province's active caseload also inched up to 2,889, which includes 300 infectious patients in hospital, 104 of whom are in critical care.
There have been no coronavirus-related deaths over the last 24 hours, leaving B.C.'s death toll at 2,333.
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry revealed that restrictions in the Northern Health region are being expanded across the entire health authority, and extended until Jan. 31.
Those restrictions prohibit personal gatherings among unvaccinated people, require bars and nightclubs to be closed and don't allow in-person worship services.
Henry said people across the province should be thinking about vaccination status when planning holiday gatherings, particularly if they have family members who are elderly, immunocompromised or otherwise susceptible to severe COVID-19 infection.
"It is important for people, especially at this time of the year, to continue to take these precautions to protect those who are most at risk," she said. "Vaccination is our best protection for those who are most vulnerable."
About 85 per cent of eligible B.C. residents age five and up have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 81.7 per cent have received two. Tens of thousands of vulnerable residents have also received a booster dose so far.
The push for vaccination has become more pressing in recent days as Canada has confirmed its first cases of the concerning Omicron COVID-19 variant. B.C. announced its first case on Tuesday, involving a Fraser Health resident who recently returned from Nigeria.
So far, 204 people across the province have been identified as having recently travelled to Omicron-affected countries. Each one has been contacted over recent days, sent for PCR testing and told to isolate.
The variant has prompted new travel restrictions in many countries, including Canada, which has banned entry to foreign national who have recently travelled to Nigeria, Malawi, Egypt, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
While it could take weeks to determine whether the variant is more transmissible, causes more severe illness, or is more resistant to vaccines, experts have said it has an alarmingly high number of mutations.
It has already been linked to a rapid rise in cases in South Africa, where vaccination rates are low compared to B.C. and Canada.
"This new variant of concern reminds us that we are in a global storm, and that it is not equal everywhere around the world," Henry said Tuesday, adding that "equal access to vaccination is something that's going to be important for us to get through this."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.