NEW YEAR'S CUT SHORT
Last call moved up to 8 p.m.
B.C. is banning alcohol sales in restaurants, pubs and stores after 8 p.m. on Thursday, in order to mitigate “risky behaviour” on New Year's Eve during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new health order, delivered by Dr. Bonnie Henry on Wednesday, will require bars to close at 9 p.m. Restaurants will be permitted to remain open for meal service only, but patrons will have to order their drinks before the 8 p.m. cutoff.
The ban on liquor sales will be lifted at 9 a.m. on New Year's Day.
The purpose, the provincial health officer explained, is to curb alcohol-fuelled, irresponsible behaviour and “that celebratory party atmosphere later on in the evening.” Henry cited previous gatherings and parties that led to increased community transmission, such as the spike in COVID-19 cases connected to Canada Day celebrations in the B.C. Interior over the July long weekend.
Previous outbreak investigations and cluster events have shown that “moving up last call” for alcohol is an effective way to protect staff in the hospitality sector, Henry said, and ensure people abide by provincial health guidelines.
There are now 7,551 active cases provincewide. Most individuals are self-isolating at home, but 379 people are being treated in hospital, including 77 in intensive care.
An estimated 9,320 people are under active public health monitoring due to close contact with a known COVID-19 case, though Henry cautioned that these numbers are likely higher, due to a lag in reported numbers out of Northern Health.
Some 14,027 B.C. residents have now been immunized against the coronavirus. Over 60 per cent of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. The impending approval of a third vaccine from AstraZeneca will help, Henry said, though a mutation of the virus out of the U.K. may put a wrench in things. Thus far, public health teams have confirmed only one case of the more transmissible variant in B.C.