Here’s the latest news for Surrey, White Rock and beyond for Thursday, March 26. This will be updated as information becomes available:
• Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, has announced 66 new cases of COVID-19 in the province in the past 24 hours.
• B.C. MLA offices and Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie have added resources to the 2-1-1 phone line and BC211 website.
• The shelves of some small-town grocery stores and pharmacies are being stripped by out-of-town residents.
• The B.C. government is offering clarity on what specific services are being considered an essential service in the province.
• Surrey’s fire department is feeling the strain – as is everyone else – on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Provincial liquor stores in B.C. will be closing on Sundays, effective March 29, due to staffing and sanitizing challenges brought about by COVID-19.
• The City of Surrey has yet to say if it will be using bylaw officers to enforce social-distancing rules.
• West Fraser is shutting down its B.C. sawmills for the week of March 30, citing market conditions and government restrictions on movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Black Press Media reporter Tyler Olsen shares a few hopeful “nuggets” to be gleaned from the pandemic.
• There may be an absence of sports around the Semiahmoo Peninsula these days, but local golfers still have a few options.
• Canada-wide Tragically Hip sing-along planned, as Canadians called to “sing from the rooftops” this evening (March 26).
• Premier John Horgan and Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, announced “unprecedented” steps under the provincial state of emergency for COVID-19 this morning (March 26), including the suspension of local states of emergency specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Canadians who need to take a leave from work for reasons related to COVID-19 will now be covered under federal medical leave supports.
• Schools are preparing to re-open next week, however, in-person instruction is suspended by order of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
• The off-season may have arrived for the Surrey Eagles quicker than planned, but the team isn’t wasting any time preparing for the next season.
• Open burning restrictions have been issued across British Columbia’s high smoke sensitivity zones.
• Madeline Merlo will be live streaming a concert on Thursday to raise money for Food Banks Canada.
• Fraser Valley Regional Library is encouraging people to tune in, turn up the volume and join in a Facebook Live digital dance party featuring DJ Jovie J on Friday (March 27) from 2-4 p.m.
• At the same time every night, a group of Vancouver residents are taking time to applaud health-care workers.
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. is expanding its insured mortgage purchase program to $150 billion as part of its response to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Amid tightening restrictions aimed at curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s unrelenting climb in cases continued Thursday with the reported number of people known to be infected approaching 3,500, with 35 of those fatal.
• Peace Arch Hospital Foundation (PAHF) has launched a grant program to help local organizations and health-care employees who are “working diligently to aid our community.”
• Funeral homes, bereavement workers and religious leaders are facing difficult choices in light of COVID-19, which calls for social distancing and a maximum gathering of 50 people.
• Surrey Schools superintendent Jordan Tinney says ‘vast majority’ of district staff will be working from home.
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