Virus claims 3 more in B.C.
Kelowna area ski hill, library branches, casinos among businesses, facilities, events closed or cancelled in bid to halt spread of coronavirus
VICTORIA — There have been three more deaths from COVID-19 in British Columbia, all stemming from a long-term care home in North Vancouver where the first death in Canada was reported.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Monday that 30 more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in B.C., which now has 103 cases.
There has been a cluster of cases at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, where a man in his 80s with pre-existing health conditions died on March 8.
Henry said at least four of the latest cases are connected to a dental conference that was held in Vancouver on March 6 and 7, and that anyone from around the world who attended the event must selfisolate.
“They should not be at work,” she told a news conference. “They should not be at school. They should not be around others. This is the critical time where we’re starting to see people turning up with illness related to the conference.”
She said letters were sent last week to people who attended the Pacific Dental Conference advising them to self-isolate and monitor their health. Henry said about 15,000 people attended the conference.
Henry also announced increased measures to fight the novel coronavirus, including directing the attorney general to close casinos. Henry said events and gatherings are now restricted to 50 people or less, which followed her 250-person limit last week.
She said hospitals will cancel elective surgeries and only emergency and urgent procedures will be performed in order to increase available acute care beds.
“This is a very challenging time for all of us,” said Henry. “This is what we need to do now.”
Henry said she is urging everyone to “come together as a community” and stay connected with seniors, many of whom are isolated in their own homes.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said the cancellation of thousands of scheduled and elective surgeries at B.C.’s hospitals represents a fundamental shift to increase available acute care beds and prepare for a “changing situation.”
He also said despite the federal government’s decision to continue to allow U.S. citizens to enter Canada without restrictions, the province would prefer they stay home.
“It’s our strong view and our strong message that visitors from the United States not come to B.C.,” said Dix. “Don’t come, because at this moment that is the wrong thing to do.”
Dix said he expects an announcement today on extending the current spring break at B.C. schools.
Major cities in B.C. began closing facilities on Monday as well.
Vancouver and Surrey announced the closing of public recreation centres and libraries.
Mayor Kennedy Stewart also encouraged Vancouver’s bars and restaurants to limit their capacity if they cannot ensure at least one metre of distance between people, while suggesting residents order takeout or delivery to continue supporting those businesses.
Deaths linked to long-term care home in North Vancouver; number of novel coronavirus cases in province tops 100
Ski hills are closed, UBC Okanagan classes are online only, casinos are shuttered, libraries are closed, most provincial court cases are postponed, some stores are taking a break, Orchard Park mall has cut hours and there will be no big St. Patrick’s Day parties.
All this, and more, was announced Monday in the Valley as coronavirusprompted precautions soared to unprecedented levels.
“The well-being of our guests, staff and residents is my family’s top priority,” said Big White Ski Resort president Peter Plimmer.
“Therefore, as of 3:30 p.m. today (Monday) the following operations at Big White will cease operations for the remainder of the 2019-20 ski season: ski lift operations, Elevation Spa, Big White Ski & Board School, The Kids Centre, Black Forest Day Lodge and Westridge Warming Hut.”
The Big White closure, as well as the closure of SilverStar Mountain Resort near Vernon, comes at the beginning of the two-week spring break for schools and one of the busiest times of the season for ski resorts.
Peak Pride at Big White events scheduled for April 1-5 have also been cancelled as a result of the resort’s closure.
The new government mandates to cancel all gatherings of 50 or more people means restaurants, movie theatres, nightclubs and bowling alleys may be the next round of businesses announcing modifications and closures.
Here’s a list of local closures, cancellations and adjustments as of Monday evening:
— All classes, lectures, tutorials and labs have been cancelled at UBC Okanagan in favour of online classes.
Students are urged to stay on campus if taking online classes in preparation for final exams, which will either go ahead in April on campus or remotely.
— After decades of annual St. Patrick’s Day parties every March 17, O’Flannigan’s Pub in downtown Kelowna has cancelled this year’s celebration due to the COVID-19 threat.
The pub will also be closed today, but will reopen tomorrow.
Plans are underway for a St. Paddy’s Day in May event.
— Good Life Fitness has closed for two weeks and will re-evaluate operations then.
Other gyms, such as The Woman’s Place (TWP), YMCA and Global, remain open with smaller group fitness classes, closed steam rooms and hot tubs, and increased sanitation of equipment and common surfaces.
— Starbucks has removed all indoor seating.
— 170-store Orchard Park Shopping Centre has cut opening hours to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The parenting room and kids’ rides have been closed, and use of loan strollers, wheelchairs, scooters and trays in the food court has been suspended.
Water faucets and hand dryers are all touch-free in washrooms, and signs have been installed advising visitors to wash their hands for 20 seconds after using the bathroom.
Hand sanitizers have been installed throughout the mall, and there’s increased cleaning of all common surfaces, such as door handles, hand railings, garbage cans and furniture.
— Lululemon is closing all stores, including its downtown Kelowna shop, through March 27.
— The District shopping centre in downtown Kelowna will close until the end of the month.
— The B.C. Lottery Corporation has ordered all casinos, including Playtime and Chances in Kelowna, Cascades in Penticton and Lake City in Vernon, to close until further notice.
— All Okanagan Regional Library branches are closed, including book returns, until further notice.
All late fines are waived.
— All family case conferences, child protection case conferences, small claims settlements and trial conferences will not proceed in provincial court until May 4, when they will be rescheduled.
Bail hearings will be by teleconference instead of personal appearances.
— The indoor Farmers and Crafters Markets at Parkinson Recreation Centre have been cancelled until further notice.
— The B.C. Interior Jazz Festival, scheduled for April, has been cancelled.
— The West Kelowna Seniors Centre is closed until further notice.
— The Okanagan Heritage Museum and Military Museum remain open, but all March break programming and events have been cancelled.
— The Repair Cafe, scheduled for March 28 at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus, has been postponed.
— The April 4 Campus to Campus HalfMarathon, between Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan, has been cancelled.
— The LaZBoy showroom in Kelowna is closed indefinitely.