COVID restrictions expanded through all Interior Health

COVID-19 restrictions that had previously been in place for just the Central Okanagan have been expanded to include the entire Interior Health region.

Effective midnight Saturday, Aug. 21, the entire health region will be under these restrictions:

• Mandatory masking in all indoor public areas for people age 12 and up.
• Suspension of high-intensity indoor fitness classes.
• Indoor low-intensity fitness classes limited to 10 people.
• Outdoor group fitness classes limited to 50 people.

Effective Monday, Aug. 23 at 8 a.m.:

• Indoor personal gatherings limited to one other household or five guests.
• Outdoor personal gatherings limited to no more than 50 people.
• Indoor organized gatherings limited to no more than 50 people.
  COVID safety plan needed for both indoor and outdoor gatherings.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer, said the restrictions are being put in place as COVID-19 continues to put a strain on the health system throughout the region.

Henry also noted that COVID is one of many difficulties residents of the interior are facing, along with the displacement caused by wildfires, adding this news is likely to be disheartening to many people.

These steps will aid in slowing transmission rates, she said.

“I think the positive news is we have seen the leveling off of transmission in the Central Okanagan where these measures have been in place,” said Henry.

The change in regulations comes as COVID-19 cases continue to climb more in the Interior Health region than it is in any other jurisdiction.

Henry notes that a large portion of the spread in B.C. are in people who have not received their first vaccination dose, and is again encouraging people to get their shots.

“The way that we protect those that can’t get immunized, like people under the age of 12; the way we protect those people whose immune system don’t respond as well to vaccines, is by all of us being protected. That’s how we stop this transmission so that businesses can continue to operate; so that we can continue to have those much needed gatherings with our families, with our friends and in a way that is safe.”

Health Minister Adrian Dix added that the COVID-19 cases, coupled with the ongoing wildfire situation, have put a strain on the health care system.

“The intent of these new measures is to get us back to a more stable state in respect to transmission as soon as we can, and to support communities in Interior Health under those circumstances,” said Dix.

“But I want to acknowledge that it’s obviously, when measures are put in place in a community, a challenging thing and we appreciate the support of municipalities and communities for these efforts.”

He goes on to say updated guidance for schools will be announced next week.

COVID-19 Figures for August 20

In the meantime, another 274 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the Interior Health region Friday, bringing the active case count up to 3,504.

The new cases were part of the 663 cases reported province-wide. As of Friday, there are 6,345 active cases in B.C.

Of those active cases, 129 are in hospital, 59 of whom are in intensive care. In the interior, there are 49 hospitalizations, including 29 patients in ICU.

There was one COVID-related death reported on Friday, bringing the provincial death toll up to 1,785.

There were no new outbreak sites identified, and currently there are 11 active outbreaks.

Five of those outbreaks are in long-term care facilities in the interior at the Village at Mill Creek’s second floor; the Nelson jubilee Manor, the Kootenay Street Village, the Cottonwoods Care Centre and the Brookhaven Care Centre.

Another three outbreaks are located at the Nicola Meadows, Hawthorn Park and David Lloyd independent or assisted living facilities in the interior.

In the meantime, the provincial first dose vaccination rate for British Columbians aged 12 and over rose to 83 per cent Friday, while the second dose rate rose to 74.3 per cent.

In the Interior, the first dose vaccination rate is 76.8 per cent, while 68 per cent of eligible recipients have gotten both shots.

Dix added that getting vaccinated is the best way to keep people and their families safe and getting back to normal life.

“COVID-19 is a vicious and nasty virus, and this is something we can do together to address the pandemic, and overwhelmingly, I think the record of immunization in B.C. is among the best in the world.”

However, he does add that British Columbia can do better, and urges people to get both their shots.

The City of Vernon is currently working on the necessary arrangements to implement these changes and will provide more information as it becomes available. Recreation Services staff are also reviewing how the new restrictions will impact classes, programs and activities.

In alignment with the Provincial Health Officer announcement, BC Transit is reinstituting the mandatory use of face coverings for customers on all BC Transit buses operating in the Interior Health region effective Saturday, August 21, for the health and safety of customers and communities.

This policy change impacts all routes and service in the following transit systems:

100 Mile House
Ashcroft-Cache Creek-Clinton
Boundary (Grand Forks)
Clearwater Area
Columbia Valley
Cranbrook
Creston Valley
Elk Valley
Kamloops
Kimberley
Kootenay Lake West
Kootenay Boundary (Trail/Castlegar)
Lilooet-Lytton
Merritt
Nelson
North Okanagan
Osoyoos
Penticton
Princeton
Revelstoke
Shuswap Regional
South Okanagan – Similkameen
Summerland
Vernon Regional
Williams Lake

This is in addition to the Kelowna Regional Transit System, where the mandatory use of face coverings was reinstituted on July 29. The Kelowna Regional Transit System includes Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Westbank First Nation, Peachland and Central Okanagan.

BC Transit is working hard to maintain a comfortable environment for customers and drivers. Customers may notice a delay in signage changes as the company updates messaging in these transit systems.

The organization appreciates the ongoing support of these policies by customers in the Interior Health region, and encourages customers to direct any further questions to their local transit office.

BC Transit is also continuing to recommend the use of face coverings throughout the rest of the communities it serves in B.C. in alignment with Step 3 of the Province’s safe restart plan.

For more information on BC Transit’s response to COVID-19 and our ongoing policies, go to: bctransit.com/covid19.