Tom Fletcher

  • 3146 Stories | 
  • Page 1 of 158
Daily COVID-19 cases reported to B.C. public health, to Jan. 19, 2022. Seven-day moving average in white. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)

B.C. reports 2,364 more COVID-19 cases, 9 deaths Friday

Hospital, intensive care cases still rising

Daily COVID-19 cases reported to B.C. public health, to Jan. 19, 2022. Seven-day moving average in white. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix navigate the basement corridors of the B.C. legislature to deliver a COVID-19 briefing, May 20, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. COVID-19 hospital admissions slowing, latest testing shows

Most virus-related illness due to age or underlying conditions

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix navigate the basement corridors of the B.C. legislature to deliver a COVID-19 briefing, May 20, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
“Kids and Families Vaccine Clinic” in Toronto on Thursday, January 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

B.C.’s COVID-19 fifth wave continues to decline, 15 more deaths

Hospital cases stable, 8 care home outbreaks Thursday

“Kids and Families Vaccine Clinic” in Toronto on Thursday, January 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Abbotsford Regional Hospital and other B.C. acute-care health facilities are reinstating pay parking as of March 4. (Abbotsford News)

Public parking charges to return to B.C. hospitals on March 4

Parking lots filled up, patients and visitors couldn’t find any

Abbotsford Regional Hospital and other B.C. acute-care health facilities are reinstating pay parking as of March 4. (Abbotsford News)
Tent camp in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria B.C., April 2021. Campers in urban regions are often people who have refused shelter space, or have been expelled from local shelters. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)

Surrey, Abbotsford, Vancouver get first centres for homeless people

Mayors called for end to ‘catch and release’ justice system

Tent camp in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria B.C., April 2021. Campers in urban regions are often people who have refused shelter space, or have been expelled from local shelters. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)
The B.C. vaccine card displayed on a smartphone. Health officials have indicated it will remain in use indefinitely while the province deals with the latest surge in COVID-19 infections. (B.C. government)

B.C. up to 895 people in hospital with COVID-19 infections

Critical care stable, 13 more deaths confirmed Wednesday

The B.C. vaccine card displayed on a smartphone. Health officials have indicated it will remain in use indefinitely while the province deals with the latest surge in COVID-19 infections. (B.C. government)
Dallas Smith, president of the Nanwakolas Council, an organization of B.C. coast and Vancouver Island first nations. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

Four coastal B.C. first nations agree on further old-growth deferrals

Western Forest Products says more cooperation to come

Dallas Smith, president of the Nanwakolas Council, an organization of B.C. coast and Vancouver Island first nations. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
A nurse attends to a patient at the COVID-19 intensive care unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital, July 2021. (The Canadian Press)

Thousands of B.C. health workers take sick days as COVID-19 spreads

Rural services in Interior, Northern Health closing or reducing hours

A nurse attends to a patient at the COVID-19 intensive care unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital, July 2021. (The Canadian Press)
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)
B.C.’s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says COVID-19 restrictions are likely to remain in place for some time as high infection rates continue. (B.C. government photo)

500 in B.C. hospitals Wednesday as rapid COVID-19 spread continues

More than 36,000 active cases, 6 more deaths confirmed

B.C.’s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says COVID-19 restrictions are likely to remain in place for some time as high infection rates continue. (B.C. government photo)
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)