B.C. to get tough with party crowds
Top cop to reveal strict penalties, targeting pubs, clubs, restaurants
The provincial government will crack down on organizers of crowded indoor parties linked to the big uptick in COVID-19 cases among young people.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said solicitor general Mike Farnworth was set to reveal a scheme of stricter penalties aimed at party organizers, while also bolstering powers to inspect and enforce rules at nightclubs, restaurants and pubs.
“One of the major concerns we continue to have is private parties and private gatherings and the most dangerous which, of course, are indoor private parties and indoor public gatherings,” Dix said.
“So we’re continuing to review what can be done about those and continuing to engage with people and discourage people from hosting such gatherings.
“Ministries are meeting and have met today to map out a more comprehensive approach to increase enforcement that will optimize the use of enforcement officers beyond public health and municipalities, health authorities, WorkSafe, and police, that will come into effect later this week.”
Dix said that continuing surveillance and enforcement had resulted in the closure of several bars, restaurants and nightclubs after COVID -19 transmission events.
Most recently in Vancouver, the Pierre Champagne Lounge (and the linked West Oak Restaurant); IVY Lounge in the Trump Hotel; and the Levels Nightclub had been associated with a significant number of COVID-19 cases.
Dix said that B.C. was in an unusual position with COVID-19, as daily case counts continued to soar — mostly among people aged 20 to 40 — while hospitalization numbers fell.
“It’s a bit in B.C. right now of a tale of two pandemics,” he said.
There were 236 cases of COVID-19 reported between noon last Friday and noon on Monday — including 100 in the first reporting period, which was the second-highest daily case load on record.
The number of active cases of the disease, at 743, is the highest on record, while the four people in hospital with the disease is the lowest number since March.
Deputy provincial health officer Dr. Réka Gustafson said this was because of the demographic of people reporting COVID-19 positive.
“We do have an increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in B.C. and the majority of new infections are among young adults,” Gustafson said. “What we do know is that COVID -19, among young and healthy individuals — not always, but can be and often is — a relatively mild infection.
“The disease can spread with very mild symptoms or before symptoms appear at all. This makes things quite challenging because some people may not even realize they have COVID-19, and they can inadvertently spread it to others.”
Gustafson reported two new deaths over the previous three days, bringing the total to 198, while 2,286 people in B.C. were in self-isolation after being potentially exposed to the disease.
There have been 4,594 cases of COVID-19 reported in B.C. since the first case appeared in late January — a man who returned to Vancouver after doing business in Wuhan, China.
Gustafson said there were 10 active outbreaks of the disease in health care settings, including two reported recently in long-term care homes.
Gustafson added there had been “very, very limited” COVID -19 exposure reported at outdoor gatherings, while indoor gatherings were a much higher risk.
Dix cautioned the pandemic will continue well into 2021 until an effective vaccine or treatment is found and widely distributed.