Sept. 7 end to COVID curbs unlikely: Henry
The end of COVID-19 restrictions that was forecast to come next month is no longer likely because of the recent surge in cases around the province, especially in Interior Health.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said Sept. 7 was the earliest date that the final tier of COVID-19 restrictions would lift, but “likely … we won’t be seeing loosening of restrictions in the near future. In the last couple of weeks, things have changed quite dramatically.”
On Friday, the province reported 663 new cases of COVID-19, including 54 in Island Health. There are now 6,345 active cases — 391 in Island Health — including 129 people in hospital, of whom 59 are in intensive care. The province reported one new death, in Fraser Health, and 11 active outbreaks in long-term care and assisted or independent living.
In reaction to a steady spike in COVID-19 cases in Interior Health, the province announced regional restrictions will expand to the entire health authority, including a mask mandate for indoor public spaces and a limit on outdoor and indoor gatherings.
Two weeks ago, restrictions were brought in for the Central Okanagan in the Interior Health, but a steady rate of COVID-19 infections in mostly unvaccinated people — despite an increase in vaccinations — prompted the province to expand measures to curb transmissions to the entire health authority on Friday.
Masks will now be mandatory in all indoor public spaces for people 12 and older in Interior Health. High-intensity, indoor fitness classes are suspended, indoor low-high-intensity fitness classes are limited to a maximum of 10 people, and outdoor group exercises are limited to up to 50 people per class.
As of Aug. 23, indoor personal gatherings will be limited to 10 guests or one other household but in a vacation rental the limit is five guests. Outdoor personal gatherings — such as birthday parties and backyard barbecues — will be limited to no more than 50 people.
Indoor organized gatherings — weddings, funerals, seated events — will also be limited to no more than 50 people, and outdoor limited to 100. People are asked to avoid non-essential travel to and from the Interior regardless of their immunization status.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the intention is “to get us back to a more stable and normal state with respect to transmission as soon as we possible can.”
The Interior is not only tackling a steady rate of new COVID-19 infections, but also the displacement of communities amid a volatile wildfire season. As a result, health-care resources are strained in a number of communities in Interior Health, including Vernon, Nelson, Kamloops and Keremeos and the Thompson-CaribooShuswap areas.
Henry said: “We realized that we really needed to take a regional approach that accounted for the fact that people are being displaced and are moving across and within the Interior, and that is one of the driving factors with what we’re seeing in increased cases.
“We understand this news will be disheartening for many in this area. We’re not only living with the challenges of the pandemic, but also with the challenges of wildfires and smoke.”
On Friday, the province reported 74 per cent of people ages 12 and older are fully vaccinated with two shots.
“Now, more than ever, it’s critical for people to roll up their sleeves and get your vaccines,” said Henry.
“The way that we protect those who cannot get immunized, like children under the age of 12, the way we protect those people whose immune systems don’t respond as well to vaccine is by all of us being protected.”