Top Stories – Nov 17 – No Mask Mandate

BC’s provincial health officer says she doesn’t believe there’s a need for another mask mandate. Dr. Bonnie Henry says while influenza cases are up, 90 percent of people here have some immunity to COVID through vaccination and infection or both. Health Minister Adrian Dix says 1.2 million people have received their flu shot this year, already twice as many as last year.

Eighty percent of Liberal party members in BC have voted to change the party’s name to BC United. It wanted to end any confusion between itself and its namesake in Ottawa. Party leader Kevin Falcon had said during the leadership race that changing the name was one of his top priorities.

The Tax Free Savings Account contribution limit for 2023 has been increased to $6,500, up from $6,000, which was the amount set from 2019 to this year. The total contribution room available next year for someone who has never contributed and has been eligible for the TFSA since its introduction in 2009 is $88,000.

Strap on the boards, it’s opening day at Big White. Skiing and snowboarding gets underway at 8:45 and tickets are 50% off ticket window price, however, they must be purchased online, with a special promo code from BigWhite.com. Lara’s Gondola, the Plaza Chair and the Ridge Rocket Express Chair will be open.

A Kelowna-based medical research clinic is looking for people 50 and older to be part of an influenza vaccine trial. Okanagan Clinical Trials is conducting a study to establish the safety and efficacy of an investigational vaccine for seasonal flu. More details are on the company’s website and participants can drop out at any time.

Donald Trump could be back on Facebook early next year after being banned following the January 6 riot. The platform doesn’t require candidates or elected officials to be subject to fact checks. YouTube has said he won’t be allowed back, while Twitter’s new owner is still deciding how the site will work.

People are still being taken in by the grandparents scam. That’s where an older person gets a call from someone claiming to be, or knows a grandchild, and says they need cash to get out of trouble. Recently, a scammer went to their Kelowna home and took cash they had pre-arranged. Police say to hang up and call a family member to find out what’s going on. A photo is in the news tab on our website

Canada has entered a flu epidemic according to the national public health agency. The flu rate nearly doubled in one week, to 11.7 percent between Oct. 30 and Nov. 5, compared to 6.3 percent the week before. Health officials in BC say there are no plans right now to bring back an indoor mask mandate, and urge everyone who can, to get a flu shot.

With all the health bugs making the rounds, Canada’s biggest drugstore chain says sales of cough and cold products hit an all-time high this fall. Loblaw, which owns Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix says the manufacturers of multinational and generic brands have had trouble keeping up with the spike in demand.

Sports

The Canadian women will be looking to even their Rivalry Series with the United States tonight in Kamloops. Face off is at 7

NBA in Toronto last night the Raptors beat the Miami Heat 112-104.

Thursday Night Football is an inter-conference game in chilly Green Bay with the 4&6 Packers hosting the 6&3 Tennessee Titans.

The Toronto Blue Jays traded star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners for reliever Erik Swanson and left-handed pitching prospect Adam Macko.