B.C.’s ban on social gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic expires at midnight Thursday with many wondering whether it will be extended.
Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix will hold a media availability at 3 p.m.
That will be carried live on BC1, Globalnews.ca, CKNW and the Global BC Facebook page.
It is believed Henry will extend the restrictions on social gatherings for at least two more weeks. She is also expected to address the restrictions around youth sports.
Currently, all events and social gatherings are suspended.
This includes activities such as indoor and outdoor events, with the exception of drive-in and drop-off events, musical or theatre performances, galas, silent auctions and watching movies in theatres.
Funerals, weddings and baptisms can still be held with a maximum of 10 people attending, including the officiant. Receptions are not allowed, however.
Meetings, such as city council meetings and alcoholic anonymous meetings can still be held as long as COVID-19 guidelines are in place.
Rental and home viewings are restricted to a maximum of six people if space allows.
Religious in-person gatherings and worship services are suspended.
Employers must make every effort to provide work from home options where possible.
Fitness centres, studios, gyms and exercise facilities are allowed to operate with safety guidelines in place but high-intensity activities are suspended.
Indoor and outdoor team sports for people 22 years of age and older are suspended.
The vaccine rollout continues in B.C. with the plan to have half-a-million people vaccinated by the end of March.
On Wednesday, health officials reported 625 new cases of COVID-19 and eight new deaths.
In a written statement, officials said it brought the province’s death toll to 962 people.
Most of the new cases were in the Fraser Health region (305) and Vancouver Coastal Health region (178).
There were 28 cases in the Island Health region, 71 in the Interior Health region and 43 in the Northern Health region.
Source: – Global News
