Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Province brings in new restrictions ahead of Christmas

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Dec, 2021 02:44 PM
  • Province brings in new restrictions ahead of Christmas

British Columbia is tightening public health restrictions as it also introduces enhanced rapid testing and booster shot programs to fight the highly contagious COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Starting at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday Dec 22nd, bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centres and dance studios will have to close, and all seated events will be reduced to 50 per cent capacity.

Indoor gatherings including weddings are being cancelled.

The health orders allow restaurants and cafes to stay open, but seating will be limited to a maximum of six people at a table, and physical distancing must be followed.

The new measures will remain in effect until Jan. 18.

Dr. Bonnie Henry "The virus has changed. And so must we."They say adversity introduces us to ourselves," said Henry. "Our storm with COVID-19 is not over."

Henry said the province is seeing "explosive outbreaks," with a large number of people being exposed at the same time. There's also been a spike in cases for those aged 18 to 35. The incubation period for the Omicron variant is shorter as well, Henry said. 

The government also announced an expansion of its vaccine booster program starting in January when large venues, such at the Vancouver Convention Centre, will become mass immunization sites.

Rapid COVID-19 testing will also be expanded next month with the expected arrival of 11 million tests from the federal government. The tests that are currently available will be distributed at long-term care facilities, among health-care workers and to rural, remote, Indigenous and vulnerable communities.

There will be 500k tests for students and staff to be deployed as needed in K to 12 to support return to school and continuity of in-person learning. An additional 500k for post-secondary students, faculty and staff.

Last week, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry introduced restrictions that placed limits on the size of indoor personal gatherings, capped audience numbers in large venues, prohibited New Year's Eve parties.

The law around social gatherings is this. You can have two households. Or up to ten people. That is it. And the same people through to end of restrictions. Everyone must be vaccinated. No more household plus 10.

Dr. Bonnie Henry "Everyone in B.C. will eventually be exposed to Omicron. But how you protect yourself will determine if you get sick. You can visit with friends inside. But keep it to the same group of up to 10". 

Omicron is surpassing Delta as the dominant strain in the province.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. announces five paid sick leave days

B.C. announces five paid sick leave days
Workers in British Columbia will be eligible for a minimum of five paid sick days a year starting in January. The new sick leave policy goes into effect Jan. 1 and affects all workers covered by the province's Employment Standards Act.

B.C. announces five paid sick leave days

New Westminster Police Officers assaulted while arresting domestic assault suspect

New Westminster Police Officers assaulted while arresting domestic assault suspect
On November 23rd at approximately 3:41 pm, the New Westminster Police Department was called to a domestic assault incident in progress where it was learned the suspect had committed an assault and had fled the scene. The suspect, a 29-year-old New Westminster resident, was taken into custody

New Westminster Police Officers assaulted while arresting domestic assault suspect

Groups threaten Alberta premier with lawsuit

Groups threaten Alberta premier with lawsuit
A coalition of at least eight environmental groups is threatening to sue Alberta Premier Jason Kenney for defamation if he doesn't retract and apologize for statements saying a public inquiry found they spread misinformation about the province's oil and gas industry.

Groups threaten Alberta premier with lawsuit

B.C. announces financial help for evacuees

B.C. announces financial help for evacuees
Mike Farnworth is asking residents to pay close attention to the weather forecast as more storms are expected after a so-called atmospheric river dumped an unprecedented amount of rain on the southwest part of the province.

B.C. announces financial help for evacuees

Union calls for review of veterans' case managers

Union calls for review of veterans' case managers
The Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees made its request in a letter to Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay this week after The Canadian Press reported this month on the large number of veterans assigned to individual case managers.

Union calls for review of veterans' case managers

Regulator approves J&J vaccine from Baltimore

Regulator approves J&J vaccine from Baltimore
Canada had rejected hundreds of thousands of doses of the vaccine this past summer due to contamination concerns about the plant, and only imported Johnson & Johnson doses, also known as Janssen, manufactured in Europe.    

Regulator approves J&J vaccine from Baltimore