With over 1900 cases and 17 deaths over the weekend; the First few days of expanded measures shows no bend in the curve

While it wasn't likely that the recently installed public health orders would be reflected in the case counts of areas outside of the Lower Mainland, the more stricter guidelines of the last few weeks in that area of the province don't seem to have provided for much of  bend in the curve of COVID, with the Fraser Health region still far and away the province's ultra hot zone for the virus.

Today's report was a live streamed event from Doctor Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix and such is the state of the current elevated levels that the two public health officials plan three such briefings per week now, up from the twice a week efforts of just a week ago.

.“Today, we are reporting on three 24-hour periods. From Nov. 20 to 21, we had 713 new cases. From Nov. 21 to 22 we had 626 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 594 new cases.  

This represents 1,933 new cases of COVID-19, including 11 epi-linked cases, for a total of 27,407 cases in British Columbia. 

There are 7,360 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. 

There are 277 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 58 of whom are in intensive care. 

The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. 

Currently, 10,200 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 19,069 people who tested positive have recovered. 

“There have been 17 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 348 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic." 

Across the Province the listings of new cases looked as follows: 414 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,304 in the Fraser Health region, 48 in the Island Health region, 104 in the Interior Health region, 61 in the Northern Health region an increase that brings the Northern Health totals to 649 reported cases since January.

There were two new cases of COVID recorded in people who reside outside of Canada. 

With the numbers reported still alarmingly high, Dr. Bonnie Henry reinforced the need to follow the guidance of the recent weeks closely to try to reverse the speed of the reports of COVID that we have seen in recent months. 

“We’re in a very challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are asking for everyone’s help to slow the spread of the virus in our province. 

As we have seen, this virus doesn’t pause when we are tired and doesn’t wait for us to catch up. 

This means that right now, we all need slow down our social interactions and increase our layers of protection to get over this next hurdle together. Over the next two weeks, we need to reduce the level of transmission in our province to relieve the stress on our health-care system and keep our schools and workplaces open. 

It is about putting our social gatherings with anyone outside of our immediate household on hold and only doing those things that are essential and safe right now. 

We’re asking you to put the safety measures at the top of your list and focus on making a difference, rather than thinking about shortcuts or workarounds." 

You can review today's full COVID-19 statement here.   

The BC Centre for Disease control has some valuable Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.

You can learn more about the outbreak from both the Province and the Federal government from the links below:

Federal Government site

British Columbia Government site

The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.

More from  Northern Health can be reviewed here 

You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.

Local governments and organizations have also provided for increased awareness of COVID-19 issues, those past advisories  can be reviewed here.

For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee

Ottawa Observations

Victoria Viewpoints 

Heiltsuk members file Human Rights Complaints against Bank of Montreal and Vancouver Police related to December 2019 incident at Vancouver branch

An incident at a Vancouver bank in December of 2019 that capture wide attention is back in the spotlight today, after lawyers for Maxwell Johnson and his 12 year old grand-daughter announced that they have filed Human rights complaints against both the Bank of Montreal and the Vancouver Police Department.

As part of their filing, the lawyers have released a transcript of the 911 call and a redacted Vancouver Police Report, both which the lawyers allege shows evidence of systemic racism.

Mr. Johnson and his grand-daughter were the principles in the situation of December 2019 when while attempting to open a bank account for his grand-daughter, the pair were detained and handcuffed after Mr. Maxwell had used his Indian Status card as identification at the branch.

The incident accelerated after the Bank called the Vancouver Police in what they had alleged was a fraud in progress.

The treatment of the two by both the bank officials and members of the VPD became a prominent story once word was released that the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner had launched an investigation in the December incident.

In February, the incident was raised in the Legislature by North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, who outlined some of the particulars and made note of a purification  ceremony for Mr. Maxwell and his family in Bella Bella.

Both are members of the Heiltsuk Nation and today Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett outlined how it is the Indigenous Nation's belief that the incident must be considered racial profiling and systemic racism.

“From the BMO manager deciding our members didn’t belong, to the 911 call to police, to the cuffing, detention and questioning of Max and his granddaughter about how they came to be at the bank, this was a clear case of racial profiling and systemic racism. Max and his granddaughter deserve justice for the pain this incident caused, and BMO and the VPD must take steps to ensure this never happens again.”

For his part, Mr. Johnson is looking for accountability and a sense of justice for his family, community and First Nations.

“Human rights tribunals need to hold institutions accountable for systemic racism,Visible minorities are under constant threat of racial profiling by organizations, and discrimination by police. We are filing these human rights complaints to seek justice for our family, our community, and First Nations, and so that other people of colour can feel safe.”

More background on the Complaints filing  documentation related to it can be reviewed from the Heiltsuk First nation website.

More notes on the provincial political scene can be explored from our archive page.

City of Prince Rupert prepares to kick some industrial tires

The Public Works Yard on Wantage Road could see
some new equipment in place in 2021

The City of Prince Rupert is looking to do a little vehicle shopping in the near future, with Council to receive a report tonight form the Chief Financial  Officer, seeking authorization to borrow $850,000 towards the purchase of three industrial vehicles.

On the shopping list will be a Backhoe, Loader and Garbage Truck, the approval for the provinces was provided as part of the 2020 Five year Provincial Plan, with the borrowing to take place through the Municipal Finance Authority.

Report for Council
(click to enlarge)

Repayment of the 850K loan is set to take place over five years with no provision for a renewal.

Some further background on the planned purchases could come as part of tonight's presentation to Council.

More notes on the City's Finance Department can be reviewed here.

Further notes on tonight's City Council Session can be explored here.

New Masks rule required attendance of law enforcement in Smithers

A Smithers resident who was not inclined to follow the Public Health Order from Doctor Bonnie Henry found himself detained by the RCMP on Friday, after members from the Smithers detachment were called to an incident the Bulkley Valley Credit Union.

When they arrived they found Randy Bell, a former candidate for Smithers Council refusing to put on a mask after a number of requests and then refusing to leave the Credit Union location as requested.

Mr. Bell decided to make his interaction with the RCMP part of a Facebook moment, documenting his interaction and eventual detention by the RCMP as part of the incident, he was subsequently released without charges and advised to review the current Public Health Orders.

He has had two previous runs for civic government, most recently in the Municipal by-election, when he came in third out of the four candidates for the council seat.

Mr. Bell also ran for the mayoralty back in 2018, losing to then incumbent Taylor Bachrach.

His past social media history also shows his support for the People's Party of Canada .

The federal party led by Maxime Bernier has expressed a number of themes in recent months related to their differences in the current approach of Federal and Provincial governments when it comes to COVID measures.

Earlier this month we outlined the latest data from BC Centre for Disease Control, which noted that as of October 31st the Bulkley Valley had recorded 42 cases of COVID-19, a number that made for the most number of cases in the Northwest, and making the Smithers are second only to Prince George when it comes to reported cases.

You can review the full list of COVID related measures from the Public Health officer here.

On Friday, Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General outlined how the province intends to enforce the public health orders.

More background on the province's approach to COVID measures can be explored from our archive page here.

Terrace airport charter flight added to COVID Advisory list from BC CDC

Travellers aboard an North Cariboo Air flight which originated
from the Terrace Airport on November 11 have
been advised of  a COVID-19 report from that flight

A charter flight departing from  the Terrace-Kitimat Airport on Remembrance Day has made for another entry into the COVID advisories from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control.

The flight in the Northwest spotlight was charter flight 1653 operated by North Cariboo Air, which provides charter air services across the province. 

The rows deemed affected as part of the alert are listed as rows 3-9.

 

On their website page, the BC CDC notes that when it comes to their Flight Alerts, where information on affected rows is available, passengers seated in these rows should be considered to be at higher risk of exposure due to their proximity to the case.  

The BC CDC also offers up some advice on Self-isolation protocols, as well as Self Assessment support and tools.

The November 11th alert makes for the third such advisory for the Terrace airport since the arrival of COVID in the province in January.

On Thursday, we made note of the first COVID related alert for Prince Rupert, with the British Columbia Centre for Disease controlling making note of an exposure on the November 16th Air Canada Jazz flight between Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

More notes related to COVID-19 measures in British Columbia can be explored from our COVID-19 archive page here.

Further notes on air transportation in the Northwest can be explored from our archive page here.

Lax Kw'alaams adds to local COVID measures and guidance following new Provincial Orders of last week

With Doctor Bonnie Henry announcing a new set of measures last week as part of the Provincial response to COVID, one local Indigenous Community has provides some guidance of their own for their membership.

Last week following the release of the new provincial orders, the Lax Kw'alaams Band Council provided some further background on their own COVID approach, posting an update to their measures on November 19th.

The guidance which was heavy on the reminder of the Masks orders, provided for four key themes for residents to take note of:

Yes, residents can go in and out of Prince Rupert but PLEASE, do not go to Terrace or beyond. PLEASE. We have to use the honour system. This is too dangerous to play games. The corridor is now Lax Kw’alaams to Prince Rupert only, and only residents and approved contractors will be allowed in and out. 

Those currently in Terrace attending this weekend’s funeral, and those currently in Terrace, Smithers, and Prince George will be allowed to return home but please, use your masks in the community. If you are currently caught outside Lax Kw’alaams you do not have to isolate, but get back in when you can and wear a mask. 

All patient travel is still in effect but if you go outside the Lax Kw’alaams – Prince Rupert corridor, you will need to isolate. This is effective immediately. 

If you go to Prince Rupert, wear a mask. On the ferry, wear a mask. Be careful.

The Band Council also reinforced the need for the use of hand sanitizer and gloves and urged community members to be prepared and to have supplies on hand should there be further steps required including a shut down of the community.

You can review the full advisory for the membership here.

For more notes on the Provincial COVID response see our archive page here.

Further background on themes from Lax Kw'alaams see our archive here.

City Council to hear recommendation to award contract for Airport ground transportation to PW Transit Canada

PW Transit Canada Ltd. was the only transportation provider
to submit a bid for Ground transportation services to and
from the Digby Island Airport

Prince Rupert City Council will be asked to approve the contract to operate ground transportation to and from Prince Rupert Airport to PW Transit Canada which also operates the regional transit service.

With the current transportation provider preparing to exit the market on December 4th, the City put the contract up for bid last month. 

A process we made note of back on October 21.

In a report for City Council, Corporate Administrator Rosa Miller notes that the city received one bid only for the service, that from PW Transit Canada Ltd.

While it would seem that they don't really have much of a choice here, Council will offer its guidance on whether to award the contract as part of tonight's session.

Hopefully, Council will take advantage of the opportunity to discuss themes related to the Airport with tonights contract award vote, perhaps to explore some of the current concerns related to the Operations at the Prince Rupert Airport.

As has been outlined in previous Council sessions, COVID measures and the reduction in travel and flights in and out of the Prince Rupert Airport have had a significant impact on the Airport's financials.

Tonight might offer a chance for Council to share some thoughts on the status of the airport these days and what solutions that they may have in mind towards addressing the local concerns.

You can review more themes on air service in and out of the Northwest from our archive page here.

For a wider overview of tonight's City Council Session see our Council Preview page here.