New holiday pandemic measures due to rising virus case counts

To address rising COVID-19 case counts and keep people safe, the provincial health officer is issuing revised orders, which take effect on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.

Measures will extend to Jan. 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m., and include:

• GATHERINGS: limiting indoor, personal gatherings, including in rental and vacation properties to the household/residents plus 10 individuals, or one additional household maximum if all are aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated;
• VACCINE CARDS: requiring the BC Vaccine Card for organized events of all sizes and ensuring the QR code is scanned at events; seating requirements and restricting movement between tables at food and liquor-serving premises, and reinforcing the need to wear masks when not seated;
• VENUES: limiting venues of 1,000 individuals or more to 50% of the seated capacity with reinforced masking requirements and scanning of the BC Vaccine Card QR code;
• SPORTS: pausing all sports tournaments while the order is in effect; and
• NEW YEAR'S: all New Year's Eve organized gatherings and events will be restricted to being seated-only events, with no mingling or dancing allowed.

The provincial health officer is also emphasizing the need for retail stores to have COVID-19 safety plans in place for holiday and Boxing Day sales.

In addition to the provincial health officer orders, British Columbians are advised to limit indoor gatherings to those who are fully vaccinated, to ensure proper ventilation indoors, to avoid all travel if not fully vaccinated and to follow the travel advisory issued by the federal government to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada.

The updated orders will be enacted under the Public Health Act.

Learn More:

For the provincial health officer's orders and guidance, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

For regional restrictions by health authority, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions

Latest modelling: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/12.14.21_PHO_modelling.pdf

To register to be vaccinated, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register

Booster link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/booster

To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children: gov.bc.ca/vaccineforkids (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/children)

To learn about the BC Vaccine Card and how to access yours, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard.html

Detailed data is posted daily on the BCCDC dashboard: https://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data

The latest updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: https://www.bccdc.ca/. Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

For COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information, visit: https://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures