By Camille Aubin
[email protected]
Following four months of tight restrictions on any type of social gathering, B.C. is now gradually easing some of the rules, allowing groups of up to ten people to gather outside.
At a press conference on Thursday, March 11, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, announced the long-anticipated easing, recommending that people gather outdoors in the same group of no more than ten people, while remaining physically distant.
“Where we can do things more safely is outside. As a result, the provincial health officer (PHO) order on gatherings and events has been amended to allow for outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people,” said Henry adding that safety needs to continue to be top of mind and the requirement to follow all COVID-19 safety protocols remains in place – at work or school, out for dinner, going to the grocery store, and everywhere else.
Henry iterated that things must be done safely. “With the amended public health order on gatherings and events we can now go outside, but we need to balance that with keeping up our precautions when indoors. If you are going to spend time with friends and family, socialize safely. This means if you or a family member is (at) higher risk, you may choose to delay your visit or ensure you are wearing your masks and maintaining a safe distance. It also means continuing to clean your hands and staying away if you are feeling unwell.”
Indoor gatherings still not allowed
The outdoor gathering is the only modification announced by Henry so far. “There are no changes to the current restrictions on indoor gatherings – in our homes or elsewhere. The requirements for restaurants and bars also continue. This is a slow turning of the dial,” specified Henry in the joint statement of March 11.
Bars and restaurants can have patios that are outside, but there are currently no changes to public health orders regarding going out to eat with someone outside of your household: it is still prohibited for a person outside your household to visit a bar or pub with you, even if you are sitting on a patio.
Vaccinations ahead of schedule
Vaccine appointments for seniors have been slightly changed. Booking appointments are now a week ahead of the vaccine booking schedule. As the week goes on, people in the 80 to 84 age group can call for appointments.
Each year of birth has its own assigned day of the week to call and schedule an appointment for vaccinations. If you’re born in 1940 (age 81), you can start calling on Mar. 18 at 12 p.m. People born in 1941 (age 80) can begin calling on Mar. 19 at 12 p.m. Those born in 1939 or earlier (82 years of age and older) or Indigenous people from 1956 and earlier (65+) can call at any time.
At the Columbia Garden Care Village, 36 residents out of 40 have already received their first dose of the vaccine. At the Invermere District Hospital’s Columbia House, 30 elderly people out of 34 were given their first dose. Last week, Interior Health booked 14,368 vaccine appointments, out of 85,904 booked for the entire province of B.C., according to B.C. Minister of Health Adrian Dix,
The local vaccination clinic in the Columbia Valley isat the Invermere Catholic Church, 712 12th Avenue, opearting five days a week. The call centre is open seven days a week between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. To reach Interior Health and book an appointment, call 1-877-740-7747. For more information about the vaccination, visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/seniors.
