Pulse FM News Update for Friday, May 21

After a helicopter crashed in Langley Thursday afternoon, the pilot and passenger were able to walk away without serious injuries. According to the Langley RCMP, the chopper went down almost immediately after taking off at Langley Regional Airport around 5 p.m. When first responders arrived, the found the two people who had been in the helicopter had not been badly hurt. A nearby car was damaged, as was the helicopter. Mounties say Navigation Canada has taken over the investigation, and will determine the cause of the crash, more information is to come

The Surrey RCMP says human remains have been found south of Cloverdale. Mounties say they were called for reports of a fire in the area of 48th Avenue and 168 Street just after 4 a.m. Friday. “A small fire in the ditch. Unfortunately, our officers did discover human remains in that location,” Sgt. Elenore Sturko said. She confirms one person has been taken into custody and that this is not believed to be related to the Lower Mainland gang conflict. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been called in. No further details have been provided about the victim, but investigators do believe they have identified them. “Based on the circumstances that police already know, although it’s early in the investigation, there does not appear to be any connection with the people or the circumstances of this discovery that would suggest that it’s related to the ongoing gang activity,” Sturko said.

Premier John Horgan is urging people to follow all COVID-19 public health orders over the long weekend so the province can have the summer than everyone wants to see. Horgan says COVID-19 case counts are coming down and the burden on hospitals is easing somewhat — but all current restrictions including the ban on travel remain in place until midnight Monday. He says the province will be announcing a new road map for reopening on Tuesday and people can expect the circuit breaker imposed to slow rising cases to be over. However, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says it’s not going to be like flipping a light switch, more like turning the dimmer up.

B-C is reporting 357 new cases of COVID-19 — the lowest number since mid-February. Provincial health officer says Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced three additional deaths, bringing the total to one-thousand-661. The number of active cases has fallen to four-thousand-636, which is the lowest since the beginning of March. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the number of people in hospital
is 331 — down from a high of 515 — but surge beds are still being

Premier John Horgan is urging B-C residents to abide by public health restrictions ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend. Rules banning indoor dining and gatherings, along with limiting
travel, are in place until midnight Monday. Horgan’s plea comes as B-C announced children between the ages of 12 and 17 will get their COVID-19 vaccines at community clinics. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says an estimated 310-thousand children in that age group are eligible to get vaccinated.

The head of the B-C Teachers Federation says schools, not community clinics, would be the best place to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17. Teri Mooring says that’s especially true for large schools with a thousand or more students who wouldn’t have to miss classes or have their parents take them to a clinic after school. She says parents working multiple jobs in hard-hit regions like Fraser Health will find it difficult to get time off work so the community-based approach won’t work for them. But provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says community clinics are ideal for equitable access to vaccines and parents prefer to go to a clinic as a family. “You can make an appointment yourself, if you are a young person in this category. If a parent or guardian has an appointment booked already, you can bring the youth [aged] 12 – 17 with you to that appointment,” she said.

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is sounding the alarm over U-S legislation allowing international cruise ships to bypass B-C ports. The legislation, which passed in the U-S House of Representatives yesterday, was crafted to support Alaska’s economy after Canada banned cruises until next February amid COVID-19 concerns. It’s intended to be a temporary move, but Ian Robertson, the harbour authority’s C-E-O, says he’s worried about the possibility that temporary could become permanent. Both federal and provincial politicians say they’re in contact with U-S officials but add that health and safety is a top priority.

Workers across B-C are now eligible to take up to three days of paid sick leave if they develop COVID-19 or must self-isolate because of close contact with someone who has the virus. Labour Minister Harry Bains says B-C’s paid sick leave provisions took effect yesterday. He says those who have the illness, are self-isolating or are simply waiting for the outcome of a COVID-19 test are eligible for the assistance — and if workers need more help the legislation provides a bridge to other benefits. Employers will be reimbursed up to 200-dollars per day for each worker claiming paid sick leave and Bains says WorkSafe B-C will administer the program on behalf of the province.

One health authority in B-C hopes a new campaign will push young people to get COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as possible. The Fraser Health authority says it was developed with social media influencers. The campaign aims to show young people what they might miss out on if they don’t get vaccinated. The authority’s push is being spread on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

WorkSafeBC says it will be stepping up inspections of restaurants pubs and breweries with outdoor patios over the long weekend to ensure they’re complying with COVID-19 restrictions. It says the increased vigilance will occur in potential COVID-19 hot spots in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions. Vancouver police say they will also be deploying additional officers in the Granville entertainment district, as well as the Yaletown and Gastown neighbourhoods to ensure large crowds don’t develop. Premier John Horgan yesterday warned B-C residents to follow restrictions that remain in place until the long weekend ends — but said a reopening plan would be announced on Tuesday.