By Pioneer Staff
Current Provincial Health Officer Orders regarding social gatherings and events have been extended to Feb 5, 2021 at Midnight.
“In the last days, we have seen a slight increase in our cases,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. “And our curve is trending upward. As a result, our current provincial health officer orders on all gatherings and events have been extended through to Feb. 5, 2021, at midnight,” said Henry.
This means that the same rules still apply, including restrictions on social gatherings, people holding events, whether held in public or private venues, and restrictions on sports activities.
No social gatherings of any size at your residence are allowed with anyone other than the household or core bubble.
The core bubble for most people is their immediate household. An immediate household is a group of people living in the same house.
For others, including individuals who live alone, their core bubble may also contain a partner, family member, close friend or co-parent living in a different household. This should not exceed two people outside your immediate household.
British Columbians are reminded under current public health orders, police and provincial enforcement officers can issue:
• $2,300 tickets to hosts/organizers who do not comply with the provincial health officer’s (PHO) orders;
• $230 tickets to patrons/attendees who do not comply with the PHO orders;
• $230 tickets for contravening the face coverings order; and
• $230 tickets for abusive or belligerent behaviour and/or for refusing to comply with the direction of enforcement officers.
In addition, courts can impose penalties of up to $10,000 and/or up to one-year imprisonment for egregious offences.
The provincial government’s non-essential travel recommendation remains in place, including travel in and out of B.C., as well as travel between regions.
For details on new restrictions, visit:
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions
COVID-19 vaccine
The federal government predicts that all provinces and territories will receive enough doses by September to vaccinate every Canadian.
According to a federal vaccine distribution timetable released Monday, B.C. will begin receiving 80,000 coronavirus vaccine doses per week by the end of February. By then, B.C. will have received more than 451,000 doses of both vaccines, enough to vaccinate 225,850 British Columbians with the required two doses.
The breakdown indicates as of Jan. 7, there have been a total of 71,200 vaccine doses were delivered to B.C. — 50,700 are from Pfizer, and 20,500 are from Moderna.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said Monday, Jan. 7, that 59,902 people have received their first vaccinations so far, which accounts for 84 per cent of all vaccines received.
