Provincial government to invest $1.5 billion dollars as part of its Stronger BC plan

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Horgan unveils economic recovery plan

The provincial government is targeting its $1.5 billion dollar economic recovery plan at health care, small business, tourism and local government. More than $400 million will be spent on job creation and training including immediate programs for jobs in healthcare, childcare and community service. Another $405 million will be spent on helping small and medium-sized businesses. The measures include a recovery grant of up to $30,000 dollars for businesses hit hard by the pandemic and up to $40,000 for tourism sector businesses. Tax breaks will be offered to businesses that create jobs and retain employees and there will be a provincial sales tax exemption on machinery purchases. Tourism organizations will receive cash infusions for marketing and promotion and a just created Tourism Task Force will dole out $50 million dollars more in the coming months. Dozens more initiatives will focus on infrastructure and community development projects for municipalities. Premier John Horgan says the plan was crafted with people in mind.

"This plan is built on extensive consultation with individuals, groups and communities. Fundamental priorities remain the same. We need to protect people's health, we need to keep the economy open safely and we need to support communities.”—Premier John Horgan.

New record for COVID-19 in B.C.

B.C. has set a new record for daily COVID-19 infections, with 165. That includes more than 100 new cases in the Fraser Health Region and one in the Island Health Region. Health officials say many of the newly confirmed cases are people who were already self-isolating because of close contact with others who have the virus. The new case counts also include two new outbreaks, at the Delta and Peace Arch Hospitals. There has been one new death reported, bringing B.C. total fatalities to 220. Fifty-seven people are in hospital, including one in Island Health.

Students K-9 in B.C. to be tested by saline mouth wash COVID-19 test

Students from kindergarten to grade nine will get a different kind of COVID-19 test, one that is more comfortable than a nasal swab and does not require a nurse or doctor to administer it. The saline mouth rinse and spit test can be administered by a parent or the student, but it must be taken at a testing centre. BC's Provincial Health officer says the made in B.C. collection method is one of the first of its kind in the world. Dr. Bonnie Henry says it will help reduce wait times and make testing easier for children.

"It is a way that we've tried to make it more efficient so we don't have as long line ups and it doesn't take as long to do, but we've had limited supplies so to start with we've focused on children because we know right now it's going to be very critical for children, if they start showing symptoms of COVID-19 and they're in a school setting, many of them will need to be tested, so it's a way of trying to facilitate that and make it easier right now."—Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Like with the nasal swab test, the new saline test will be sent to a lab for analysis, so it is not considered a rapid test.