Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Capacity limits to be lifted in B.C.

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Oct, 2021 02:12 PM
  • Capacity limits to be lifted in B.C.

Indoor and outdoor organized events in British Columbia will soon be able to return to full capacity to allow those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend, with the province's top doctor saying health officials will keep an eye on the risk.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday that indoor sporting events, concerts, movie theatres, symphonies and other seated venues can go to 100 per cent capacity when proof of vaccination status is checked on Monday.

It's one day after the deadline on Sunday for residents to be fully vaccinated if they want to attend certain venues.

"So, it doesn't reduce the risk to zero. It means that we are mitigating the risk. We know that the risk of people who are fully vaccinated transmitting the virus and getting sick is much, much less."

Henry said not all residents may be able to safely attend those events, including immunocompromised people who might not feel ready to be exposed to others in a large group setting. Mask requirements for indoor settings like these are still in place, she said.

Weddings, funeral receptions and parties can also go to full capacity. Orders aimed at restricting the movement of people at restaurants will also be lifted.

However, officials will monitor the spread of infections because B.C.'s hospitals are "stretched," Henry added. "Yes, we are watching that carefully, and I hope to be able to take off more restrictions as we get through the next few months. But it's going to be a challenge for all of us."

The rules remain in place for nightclubs and bars, where socialization is an important part of those settings, she added.

"It doesn't go as far as having lots of people dancing," she said of the continued restrictions.

B.C. reported 560 new cases on Tuesday and five more deaths for a total of 2,086.

The vaccination rate has reached 89.2 per cent for those eligible for the first shot and 83.5 per cent have received a second dose.

In order to attend events or venues, anyone who is 12 years and older will need to present their vaccine card proving that they have been fully vaccinated. The Sunday deadline requires anyone attending those settings to have been fully vaccinated for at least seven days.

Bridgitte Anderson, the chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, called changes a "critical step" towards the hospitality and tourism sector's recovery.

The Vancouver Canucks said in a statement on Tuesday the announcement was "great news" and said the team is looking forward to the season home opener next Tuesday.

Henry said capacity limits will remain in effect where regional orders are in place, including the eastern Fraser Valley and parts of the northern and Interior health regions.

She also addressed COVID-19 in schools, where she said the province is seeing similar transmission rates and numbers of schools affected as last year.

"Most of the infections, the source of infections, for school aged children is outside of the classroom," Henry said.

A new report by the Provincial Health Services Authority, posted to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control's website, examined the impact of the virus during the start of B.C. 2021-22 school year.

"Serious outcomes from COVID-19 infections continue to be rare among all school-age children in B.C.," the report says. "Among 12-17-year-old children who are eligible to be vaccinated, hospitalization is less common in youth who have at least one dose of vaccine compared to those who are unvaccinated."

Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix also shared their frustration with efforts to crack down on businesses flouting COVID-19 safety rules.

"We're disappointed to be at this place because health authorities, as you can imagine, are unbelievably busy," Dix said.

The Fraser Health Authority is seeking an injunction against a restaurant in Hope that has refused to follow COVID-19 health protocols.

"It shows people they don't respect their neighbours, they don't respect their business neighbours, they don't respect their community," Henry said of the restaurant.

Dix said he understands other businesses may be frustrated by the delay in punishing the offending business, but the government is committed to cracking down on those who refuse to follow health orders.

MORE National ARTICLES

Election review to probe where Tories bled votes

Election review to probe where Tories bled votes
James Cumming, an Alberta representative who lost his seat to the Liberals' Randy Boissonnault, says he will begin reaching out to candidates and campaign teams this week.

Election review to probe where Tories bled votes

Open letter asks PM to commit to reconciliation

Open letter asks PM to commit to reconciliation
The letter from family heads of the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Nation comes a day after Trudeau visited their territory in Kamloops for the first time since more than 200 unmarked graves were found in May at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Open letter asks PM to commit to reconciliation

Beavers be gone, but not until spring

Beavers be gone, but not until spring
Officials in Cranbrook have been trying to relocate the beavers for the last month but a permit for the move is set to expire. A statement from the city says staff will focus on transferring the creatures to a more appropriate location early next year.

Beavers be gone, but not until spring

Man In Custody After Hours-Long Barricade

Man In Custody After Hours-Long Barricade
Police arrived at the suite at the building in the 600-block of Douglas Street shortly after noon, in an effort to apprehend a man wanted on several warrants under both the Criminal Code and the Mental Health Act.

Man In Custody After Hours-Long Barricade

1,846 COVID19 cases over 3 days

1,846 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are currently 4,917 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 190,918 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 360 individuals are currently in hospital and 151 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

1,846 COVID19 cases over 3 days

Surrey RCMP need the public's help in locating missing male Kulvinder Pooni

Surrey RCMP need the public's help in locating missing male Kulvinder Pooni
Pooni is described as an South Asian male, 70kg, 5.8”, short black hair, black goatee, black eyes, wearing a grey jacket with black pants. Pooni is known to frequent 120th Street and 72nd Avenue in Surrey. 

Surrey RCMP need the public's help in locating missing male Kulvinder Pooni

PrevNext