Canada‘s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says that everyone quarantined at a Canadian Forces base in Ontario is “healthy” and on track to leave quarantine on their respective release dates.
“I’m pleased to report everyone quarantined at CFB Trenton is healthy with no symptoms of novel coronavirus infection,” Dr. Tam told reporters in an update on Saturday.
Tam said that if there are no health concerns or signs of the new virus, Canadian evacuees who arrived on Feb. 7 and on Feb. 11 should be released from Trenton on Feb. 21 and Feb. 25, respectively.
“At that time, health officials will confirm individuals who have been under quarantined are healthy, and are able to proceed safely to their final destinations,” Dr. Tam said.
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A second flight chartered by Ottawa to evacuate Canadians from Wuhan, China, arrived at CFB Trenton Tuesday where they will be quarantined for 14 days.
A total of 398 people flown out of Wuhan by Canada are now under quarantine at the base.
The newly named disease, COVID-19, was first detected in late December in China, has affected more than 67,000 people globally and has killed more than 1,500.
1:35 Coronavirus outbreak: Europe confirms first death as China struggles to slow spread
Coronavirus outbreak: Europe confirms first death as China struggles to slow spread
In Canada, eight cases have been confirmed. There are five confirmed and presumptive cases in B.C. and three confirmed in Ontario.
France reported its first fatality Saturday — a Chinese tourist from Hubei — marking the first death from the disease outside of Asia and in Europe.
Tam’s update comes after the U.S. announced early Saturday it would be flying home its citizens from a quarantined cruise ship.
A total of 3,700 people, including 255 Canadians, were quarantined aboard Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess after a number of passengers tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
It is estimated that there are 380 American citizens on board the Diamond Princess, which is docked in Yokahama, Japan.
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2:04 B.C. records fifth case of COVID-19 coronavirus
B.C. records fifth case of COVID-19 coronavirus
So far, 285 people from the ship have tested positive for the new virus, after 67 new cases were found Saturday. A total of 12 Canadians from the Diamond Princess are infected with the virus.
In a letter to its citizens, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said it would be providing a chartered aircraft on Sunday to bring the citizens directly from Japan to Travis Air Force Base in California where they will be quarantined for another 14 days.
A statement from Global Affairs said Canada is still determining the next steps with Japanese officials.
0:58 China’s top diplomat addresses challenge of coronavirus, criticizes ‘overreaction’
China’s top diplomat addresses challenge of coronavirus, criticizes ‘overreaction’
“We are aware that the US Government is making arrangements to bring American citizens aboard the Diamond Princess to the US on a voluntary basis in the coming days,” read the statement.
“Canadians on board with immediate medical concerns are encouraged to consult ship personnel and medical authorities on board.”
Earlier this week, Canada’s foreign affairs minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said that four standing rapid deployment team members had arrived in Tokyo and that three public health agency members were scheduled to arrive Friday.
Another two Canadian Armed Forces medical officers will soon be deployed, wrote Champagne on a statement posted to Twitter Thursday.
➡️4 Standing Rapid Deployment Team members have arrived in Tokyo on Feb. 12 ➡️3 Public Health Agency Canada members will arrive on Feb. 14 ➡️2 Canadian Armed Forces medical officers will soon be deployed
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.
