Premier vows to get tougher on COVID-19 rule-breakers
Premier John Horgan says the province plans to “beef up” enforcement to ensure those who defy B.C.'s COVID-19 restrictions are held accountable.
Horgan said while the majority of British Columbians are following provincial health orders, there are still too many who are not “prepared to bend a little bit in their personal lives to the benefit of all of us collectively.”
Visiting people from different households is prohibited with few exceptions this holiday season. Worship services and community events have been suspended, along with high-intensity group fitness and indoor and outdoor sports for those 19 and over.
On Tuesday, provincial health officials confirmed another 522 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. between noon Monday and noon Tuesday, as well as 21 additional deaths.
The updated numbers from Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix increased total cases in B.C. to 43,463, but active cases dipped below 10,000, to 9,860. The total death count rose to 668.
Henry and Dix also confirmed two new community outbreaks, including a community cluster at Big White Ski Resort connected to 60 COVID-19 cases.
Interior Health said in a news release that the cluster of cases was mostly due to shared housing in the Big White community, including large households and social gatherings. The health authority stressed the importance of limiting social activities and following COVID-19 protocols when indoors.
Premier Horgan said over the next couple of weeks, the province would ensure all levels of public authority — even conservation officers and community safety investigators — will be asked to enforce public health orders.
“That means holding rule-breakers accountable and that means ensuring that the fines that we levy are collected,” Horgan said. “If you do not pay the fines, we will send collections after you. This is serious, this is not a lark and this is not something we do lightly.”
Under B.C.'s Emergency Program Act, individuals can be subject to a $230 fine for, among other things, refusing to wear a mask in an indoor public setting, refusing to comply with the direction of an enforcement officer or engaging in abusive or belligerent behaviour.
A $2,300 fine can be levied against anyone who violates the provincial order by hosting a gathering or party. Last weekend, Vancouver police responded to four downtown house parties and issued four $2,300 tickets.
Between Aug. 21 and Dec. 4, law enforcement issued 194 violation tickets totalling nearly $152,000 in fines.
“Although the numbers are unacceptably high here in British Columbia, we together have flattened the curve over the past couple of weeks and we're hopeful that if we continue to abide by public health orders over the weeks ahead getting through the Christmas season, we'll be in a much better position come January,” Horgan said.
Horgan's comments came on the same day his province began its COVID-19 inoculation program