All Canadian provinces except for P.E.I. and the territories recorded new cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday, raising Canada’s total number of infections above 127,000.
The numbers, which were released by provincial health authorities, tally an increase of 539 new COVID-19 cases Friday, as well as six new deaths.
Canada’s total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 127,288 and the country’s death toll has been raised to 9,108.
Over 113,200 patients — or about 89 per cent of Canada’s cases — have recovered from the virus, while 6,257,967 tests have been administered.
2/4 There are indications that the street drug supply is growing more unpredictable and toxic in some parts of the country, as previous supply chains have been disrupted by travel restrictions and border measures during #COVID19. #SubstanceUse#CarryNaloxone
In an update Friday, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, pointed to the pandemic as being a factor in an increase of drug-related overdoses and deaths.
“There are indications that the street drug supply is growing more unpredictable and toxic in some parts of the country, as previous supply chains have been disrupted by travel restrictions and border measures during COVID-19,” said Tam during a press conference Friday.
“Public health measures designed to reduce the impact of COVID-19 may increase isolation, stress and anxiety and puts a strain on the supports for persons who use drugs.”
1:03 Coronavirus: Canada’s top doctor says COVID-19 contributing to drug-related overdoses and deaths
Coronavirus: Canada’s top doctor says COVID-19 contributing to drug-related overdoses and deaths
Tam then pointed to a sharp increase of overdose deaths in British Columbia, which she said saw a 136 per cent increase over the number of over deaths recorded in July of last year.
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Provincially, Alberta recorded the highest daily increase in cases Friday with 158 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its total infections to 13,476. No new deaths were recorded in the province.
Ontario reported 122 new cases of the virus on Friday, raising its total provincial cases to 41,935. Another six deaths were also recorded by the province on Friday, raising its COVID-19 death toll to 2,809.
2:02 Coronavirus: Canada’s top doctor comments on Quebec’s decision to reduce isolation period to 10 days
Coronavirus: Canada’s top doctor comments on Quebec’s decision to reduce isolation period to 10 days
British Columbia added 123 lab-confirmed cases of the virus on Friday — its highest ever single-day jump — raising the provincial total to 5,426 cases.
One additional case is considered as “epidemiologically linked,” which refers to patients who show symptoms of the virus and are in contact with those who have it but have never been tested for it.
Global News’ tally only counts lab-confirmed cases of the virus, not those that are epi-linked, of which there are 70 in total across B.C..
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The province also did not report any additional deaths, with its fatalities standing at 204.
Quebec, the hardest-hit province in Canada, announced 98 new cases of the virus on Friday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 62,124. One additional death that health authorities said had occurred before Aug. 21 was also reported, though the provincial COVID-19 death toll remained at 5,750 because one previously announced fatality was declared non-coronavirus related.
Manitoba added 32 new COVID-19 cases on Aug. 28, raising its provincial total to 1,096 infections. The numbers include at least 15 probable cases of the virus, however.
Both Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia recorded two new cases of the virus on Aug. 28, while New Brunswick and Newfoundland added one new case each.
Saskatchewan’s total COVID-19 cases increased to 1,611 and Nova Scotia’s to 1,083. New Brunswick’s cases increased to 191 while Newfoundland and Labrador’s rose to 269.
Worldwide, cases of the new coronavirus have since surpassed 24.6 million, according to a running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Over 833,000 have succumbed to the virus, with the United States and Brazil leading in both cases and deaths.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
