ACN stands for Ash-Creek News.

COVID-19 count -- The Province’s latest COVID-19 numbers show that on Wednesday, Sept. 2 there were 104 new cases in BC, and a further 89 new cases on Thursday, for a total of 6,041 cases in British Columbia. There are 1,1175 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,801 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and 4,644 people who tested positive have recovered.

Currently, 34 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 11 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,012 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 3,155 in the Fraser Health region, 178 in the Island Health region, 450 in the Interior Health region, 167 in the Northern Health region and 79 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

There has been one new COVID-19 related death, for a total of 210 deaths in British Columbia. There have been no new community outbreaks, although there continue to be community exposure events. These events, which are primarily attended by younger people, have resulted in a drop in the median age of those who are testing positive for COVID-19 in BC, to age 41.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says that “As we look to the fall, now is the time to pause the activities that we know are a high risk to all of us - spending time with groups of people we don't know without taking personal precautions ... Now is also the time to think about the number of contacts you have. There is no 'safe' number, but fewer people is better. If you know you have more interactions ahead - for example, if you are returning to work - then it is a good idea to reduce your time with other contacts ... This upcoming long weekend, choose to go small, to spend time with your household bubble instead of a group of strangers, and choose to use the layers of protection, wherever you may go ... We have the tools and we can make the right choices. To be successful in this next phase, we need to step back to safely move forward, so let's all make that choices that will keep our communities, our Elders, our loved ones and ourselves safe."

There’s a lot of stress around COVID-19, and the BC government has news on their website about _{Managing COVID-19 Stress, Anxiety and Depression. Fo}r information and tips about how to stay healthy and calm, find reliable news, manage your stress, and more, go to https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/managing-covid-stress.

The Village of Cache Creek will replace the netting inside the coverall at the Cache Creek Recreational Park after complaints from residents that birds are getting trapped and dying in the netting, which was placed to keep sports equipment from getting caught behind the plywood. CAO Martin Dalsin says the plans include tearing down the netting and putting in another barrier, likely more plywood. However, he notes that work will have to wait until after the Village has completed its flood recovery work.

This weekend the Ashcroft and District Lions Club will be at the Cache Creek Market on Saturday, to serve up delicious barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs while the market takes place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Come on down to the market beside Chum’s Restaurant and check out the wide array of vendors and merchandise on offer, and help support the Lions and all they do for our communities.

The Province of BC has announced that the provincial and federal governments are providing funding to support the construction of 55 new Level 2 Electric Vehicle charging stations around northern B.C., which will include two EV charging stations for Ashcroft and two for Logan Lake. It’s part of the provincial CleanBC program and will support the Charge North initiative, which is constructing the 55 stations in partnership with 25 local governments and First Nations in central and northern B.C.