With a new hair cut and backdrop Gareth Smart is back with the April 2nd COVID19 update, which includes:

The new world numbers -- 1,015,630 total cases, 53,016 deceased 3,789 total serious at the moment 207,011 total recovered. Locally our numbers are 55 new cases and 6 new deaths.

As a reminder, there was a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cache Creek, so if you were in the Cache Creek Subway on March 24,25 or 26 you are being asked to self-isolate immediately. The person who was infected was an employee.

There was a small first responders’ parade that drove around Ashcroft, you can see that short video on our Facebook page, we filmed them going around the doctor’s office to show support.

There was stabbing and fatality at a party in Kamloops. The Mayor of Kamloops is saying please do not have parties or gatherings at this time. Also, despite what is going on in the world, Kamloops in moving forward with several capital projects. Transit is limiting the amount of people that is allowed on their buses to 20 people at a time, and the farmers market has been deemed an essential service.

Vicky Trill, the Executive Director of the Ashcroft Hub phoned in to talk about a local group of community leaders that have come together and made a support hotline for Ashcroft and cache Creek. This group includes several charitable organizations, churches and politicians in the area. Vicky mentions how the call center has been doing and what it plans to do moving forward.

There are good things happening in the world -- top tier fashion designers are creating hospital gowns, and other types of equipment, but where there is good, there must also be bad. There is a man that was caught in Richmond who had been profiteering on the pandemic by selling masks over the internet at hugely inflated prices. The Province of BC had a new bylaw that this type of behavior is not allowed, and the police caught this man in a sting operation. The man was given a fine and the masks were confiscated.

In BC Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s press release she wrote about not having mass gatherings during the Easter long weekend.

A message from our MP Brad Vis’ Twitter page: In regards to the government talking about letting inmates out of prison during the pandemic. “Inmates of federal penitentiaries are serving serious time for serious crimes. The Liberal govt says it wants to protect Canadians from #COVID-19, but now wants to speed up the release of dangerous offenders. The rights of criminals must not take priority over victims' rights.”

A note from Desert Sands Community School - "Hello students and families! We have been thinking about how we might continue to connect with you during this time. One of the ways we connect when we are all at school, is to listen to stories together and we can still do that! Check out our new page Story Time with Staff to view staff members reading some of their favorites!"

Check us out tomorrow, and thanks for watching!!