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Rabi ul II 5,1442 Nov 20, 2020
c O vid / local
10 deaths and 762 new cases as B.C. breaks COVID-19 records again
British Columbia’s COVID-19 surge showed no sign of slowing down Wednesday, as the province broke another record with 762 new cases of the virus in a 24-hour period. In a written statement, health officials said there were 10 new deaths, bringing the province’s total to 320. It was the second day in a row that B.C. reported double-digit deaths from the virus.“We have seen a rising number of new cases of COVID-19 across the province and we need to slow this down. We need to put the brakes on the virus and doing this
requires a sustained effort by all of us,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix wrote. “This second surge is putting a strain on our healthcare system, our workplaces and us all. We need to ease this pressure so we can continue to manage the virus in our province and also continue to do the many activities that are important to us.” The majority of the cases were in the Fraser Health region (481) and Vancouver Coastal Health region (210). Another 38 were in the
Interior Health region, 20 on Vancouver Island and 13 in the Northern Health region. There were also a record number of people in hospital, up 11 overnight to 209. Fifty-eight people were in critical or intensive care with COVID-19.A new outbreak involving one patient at Surrey Memorial hospital was also declared. Fraser Health said the unit, which was not identified, was closed but that the emergency department remained open and other hospital operations were unaffected.
VANCOUVER -- The tough regional restrictions in B.C.’s Lower Mainland that were put in place less than two weeks ago have a “second component,” Premier John Horgan said Wednesday. The premier didn’t provide any further details, but said the public would be hearing more at Thursday’s COVID-19 briefing with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. “We have a significant two weeks ahead of us as we look at the second component of the regional orders that were put in
place on Nov. 9,” Horgan said. “Dr. Henry will have more to say on orders tomorrow.” The current public health order is scheduled to end on Nov. 23, though coronavirus case numbers have continued to swell since it was first announced. Just this week, B.C. broke its previous records for active coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, daily increases and daily fatalities.Under the existing restrictions, people living in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions are only supposed to
socialize with their “core bubble,” which for most people means members of their own household. Residents are also asked not to travel between health authority regions, except for essential and business purposes.In addition, the order forced gyms and fitness facilities throughout the Lower Mainland to temporarily close until they could get a new COVID-19 safety plan approved by local health officials. Source.bc.ctvnews.ca
balanced budget that holds the line on property taxes. The rate set in the 2019 and 2020 budgets was 2.9% and is, once again, the rate proposed for the 2021 budget,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “There is no question that COVID-19 has hit all of us hard economically and Council recognizes the importance of not increasing the burden to our ratepayers. The adversity that we face now with the pandemic will eventually come to an end, and Budget 2021 plans for life after COVID by investing in public projects in the form of facilities, parks and other infrastructure projects. Surrey has weathered the economic storm caused by COVID and Budget 2021 puts us on a steady and stable course to navigate the new year and beyond.” Budget 2021 proposes a Capital Parcel Tax increase of $200. Below are some of the projects that will benefit all citizens of Surrey that the levy will help fund. All of the following projects are budgeted to ensure work can get underway next year:
1. Newton Community Centre & Land Acquisition 2. City Centre Sports Complex Phase 1 3. Bear Creek Park Athletics Centre 4. South Surrey Athletic Park Track Replacement & New Artificial Turf Field 5. Newton Turf & Washroom/ Changeroom 6. Artificial Turf Field Replacements at Five Locations 7. Indigenous Carving Centres 8.Newton Athletic Park Walking Track 9. Sunnyside Reservoir Pickleball & Bike Park 10. New Park Washrooms 11. Biodiversity Preserve Park Improvements 12. Trail & Path Development 13. Crescent Park Studio/Building Renovation 14. Outdoor Volleyball Courts 15. New Park Shelters 16. Cloverdale Sport & Ice Complex
with 2 sheets of ice (budgeted for 2022/23) The operating budget for police related services, which include the Surrey Police Service, was forecasted at $189.6 million in the 2020 budget. City staff has been continually reviewing this item as more information became available and has recalculated the operating budget for police related services for 2021 at $184.1 million, a decrease of $5.5 million from the projection in the previous budget cycle. “On behalf of Council, I would like to thank all of our city staff for the steps they have taken to ensure that the core services and programs are delivered in the most cost effective manner during this time of pandemic,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “I want to give a special thank you to the staff of the City’s Finance Department for their comprehensive and meticulous work on Budget 2021.” Source.Oliver Lum Senior Manager, Communications and Media Relations
to manage a successful Democratic presidential campaign. She is a veteran political operative who worked on both of Barack Obama’s White House bids. Rodriguez, granddaughter of the late farmworker union leader Cesar Chavez, was national political director on Sen. Kamala Harris’ 2016 presidential team before coming to the Biden campaign, and served in the Obama administration. Richmond, a 47-year-old African American, will be a senior adviser to the president and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, the role Valerie Jarrett filled in the Obama administration. He’s expected to
engage with Congress and focus on the Black community and other minority groups. Richmond formally announced that he was taking the position at a news conference at a regional airport in eastern New Orleans, not far from his home. He said he will step down from his congressional post in January. Richmond said he believes having Biden’s ear in a West Wing office will enable him to help Louisiana and other Southern states with similar problems, including poverty, poor health outcomes and ineffective education.“This new role will allow me to offer advice to the president when he wants it - maybe sometimes when he doesn’t want
it,” Richmond said. A former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Richmond was among Biden’s earliest high-profile supporters and served as his campaign co-chair. Richmond has scheduled a Tuesday news conference in which he’s expected to announce that he’s leaving his congressional seat. Richetti, Donilon, Tomasini and Bernal all have longstanding relationships with the Biden family. Ricchetti was Biden’s chief of staff during Obama’s second term, while Donilon has advised him in various roles since 1981, and Tomasini served in communications roles for Biden when he was still a senator. Source. ctvnews.ca
Source.globalnews.ca
B.C.’s regional COVID-19 orders getting ‘second component,’ premier says
Budget 2021 pairs fiscal responsibility with strong community investment
Surrey, BC – The City of Surrey’s proposed Budget 2021 has set a general property tax increase of 2.9%, which is consistent with the rate that was set by Council in the two previous budgets. Despite the challenges that have been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Surrey’s Budget 2021 is balanced in accordance with the Local Government Act and the Community Charter. “It has been Council’s approach to manage our public dollars prudently and it is a testament to the economic strength of Surrey that we have been able to bring in a fully
Biden filling top White House team with campaign veterans
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sion. The Democrat will be inaugurated
Jan. 20. Late last week, Biden tapped former senior campaign adviser Ron Klain to serve as his chief of staff. The latest round reflects Biden’s stated commitment to diversity in his staff - the team includes four people of colour and five women. “America faces great challenges, and they bring diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to tackling these challenges and emerging on the other side a stronger, more united nation,” Biden said in a statement. O’Malley Dillon, 44, was the first woman
Coronavirus infections over 56 million worldwide Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
39,370,986
56,583,050
1,355,147
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
311,109 24,422
11,186 320
248,321 17,914
Last updated:
November 19, 2020, 07:38 GMT www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?
CANADA Last updated:
November 19, 2020, 07:38 GMT
BC;CANADA Last updated: November 19, 2020, 07:38 GMT