Restrictions clamping down on indoor dining, travel, and indoor worship amid “exponential growth” of COVID-19 cases were introduced by the province on Monday.
New and amended orders and guidelines are in effect until April 19 to address surging COVID-19 case counts.
Premier John Horgan said case counts are higher today than at the worst point of the second wave between November and January. “I’m appealing again to all British Columbians to not blow this, let’s focus on getting through the next three weeks.”
• Restaurants, bars and pubs: All food and liquor-serving premises must provide only take-out or delivery service. Dine-in service is prohibited, except for outdoor patios. People dining on patios should do so with their immediate household or core bubble only.
• Group fitness: Indoor, adult group fitness activities of any kind are paused. Gyms and fitness centres are restricted to individual or one-on-one activities only.
• Worship: The previously announced variance allowing limited indoor worship services has been suspended. Outdoor worship services may continue.
• Travel: Travel continues to be limited to essential travel, work or medical reasons only. For those who have travelled outside their health region, if you or anyone in your family develops any signs of illness, you must stay home from work, school or daycare, and arrange to get tested immediately.
• Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort is closed until April 19 to address and prevent community spread related to non-essential travel.
• Workplaces: All workers are strongly encouraged to work from home, where possible.
Public health guidance for schools has been amended to encourage students down to Grade 4 to wear masks while at school.
WorkSafe inspections will be stepped up in office buildings and retail stores.
“We do not yet have enough people protected with our vaccines to keep our loved ones and our communities safe,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said 14.2 per cent of 4.3 million eligible British Columbians have been vaccinated.
Virus transmission is mostly happening in indoor settings throughout the province and a “circuit breaker” is needed to break the chains of transmission, Henry said.
Restaurateur Mike Murphy, who owns the 10 Acres Farm & Restaurant Group, which includes the Commons, Pier, and cafe said he believes the Island is being “punished” for surging cases in the Fraser health region. He said the “stop and start” restrictions are challenging. “I bet we orderd $12,000 worth of fresh food this morning and only to find out three hours later this is happening.”
Murphy said he’ll try to make the most of his three patios and takeout options and look to opening in the third week of April.
“We might be able to savlage 35 to 40 per cent of business over the next three weeks, in which case we can keep most of our staff but most of the part-time staff we’re going to have a hard time keeping. We’ll do the best we can but obviously we can’t just pay them to do nothing.”
Murphy said the federal wage subsidy is helping but he’s unclear based on the premier’s answer Monday on what if anything the province will do to further help. Horgan said his ministers spoke with the hospitality and tourism industry and are “on it” and will look at how the province can “bridge the next three weeks” and will develop the programs needed.
It was only last week that faith leaders were told they can hold religious services indoors on four days between March 28 and May 13, with safety plans to prevent people from gathering or socializing before, during or after services. That has been suspended.
St. Andrew’s Cathedral hastily stopped registration on Monday for parishoners wanting to attend one of four indoor services and said it will continue to livestream its three masses Saturday and Sunday along with Holy Week services.
Congregation Emanu-El synagogue board member Richard Kool said a planned morning service for April 3 will be moved online. He empathized with the province trying to tackle rising COVID-19 cases. “Our desire to be together as a community is really tiny compared to our desire to see the larger community safe. Of course, it’s a disappointment, but really is small in the scheme of things. It’s far more important for our congregants and all people to be safe. We completely follow Dr. Henry’s advice and some day, God willing, we’ll all be able to be back together again.”
Iman Ishmail Mohamed Nur said members of Masjid al-Iman mosque in Victoria “will do whatever necessary to assist our city minimize the risk of infection.” Members were looking forward to the easing of restrictions as Ramadan begins in a few weeks, but “fortunately Islam is flexible in its view on worship; we can pray anywhere and maintain our connection with the Almighty.”
The province reported 936 cases Friday to Saturday, 805 from Saturday to Sunday and 774 from Sunday to Monday for 2,518 in total, including 142 new cases in Island Health. There are now 333 active cases on the Island, with 168 on the south Island, followed by the central region at 142.
On Monday, there were 299 people in hospital in B.C. with COVID-19, 79 in critical care.
The number of young people age 29 to 40 and 40 to 59 becoming seriously ill, hospitalized and dying from the virus is increasing. “There’s been a dramatic increase in transmission between young people around the province,” Henry said.
Horgan appealed to younger generations to curtail their social activity and think of others: “Do not blow this for your parents and your neighbours and others who have been working really, really hard making significant sacrifices, so we can get good outcomes for everybody.”
B.C. also announced it is pausing “for the next few days” use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people 55 and younger based on a “very rare” blood clot condition, Henry said.
“If you have received the AstraZeneca vaccine and you develop symptoms that are concerning such as headaches or swelling — and we have a list of those symptoms on the B.C. CDC website — you can seek medical attention,” she said.
If you received the AstraZeneca vaccine more than 20 days ago, there is no need to worry, she said.
