Vancouver Rundown Thursday January 11, 2024

Local news found here...not on Facebook

Jan 11, 2024

Summary

There’s a spike in cases of influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in B.C. hospitals and the situation is expected to get worse over the next couple weeks. However, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, says COVID cases are starting to drop again. Henry says over 10,000 people went to hospitals over the past week…many of them children. Meanwhile, Health Minister Adrian Dix claims B.C. has the highest rate of flu and COVID-19 vaccination in North America.

Other news…

Once again, the TransLink Mayors’ Council is going ‘cap in hand’ to multiple levels of government to beg for more money for transit projects. Part of that plan involves asking residents to sign on to a form letter expressing concern that the area does not have enough public transit to support growing communities. Some groups, including the Surrey Board of Trade, HUB Cycling and several student unions, are adding their voice to the call. It’s feared there won’t be any new expansions until all levels of government cough up even more money.

Two people, including a firefighter, have been rushed to hospital after a late morning blaze at an SRO building on Vancouver’s DTES. Crews were able to contain the flames to a single suite in the building near Cordova and Columbia. Other units have suffered heavy smoke and water damage…the cause is not immediately clear.

An incident on a Washington state ferry is a reminder of why sailings are often cancelled during stormy weather. Waves flooded a car deck of a ferry near Anacortes, WA on Tuesday - fortunately, the vessel was not in service at the time. Damage was minimal. Service to the San Juan Islands will not be impacted.

The next few days will have overnight lows of between -9C and -17C. That’s bloody cold and Environment Canada has issued an arctic outflow advisory. The good news is there won’t be much in the way of snow…possibly just a few flurries over the next few days in some areas of the Lower Mainland. Here are the latest conditions from our private weather station in Surrey.