Provincial Health Officer, Dr.Bonnie Henry has set new requirements for social distancing for Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health after  567 new cases were identified province-wide.

The orders (listed below) in the region (except for Bella Coola Valley and the Central Coast) will be in effect for the next two weeks, from today (Saturday) at 10 pm until Monday, November 23rd at 12 pm.

“What we are doing is looking at the literature around the world and what we know is safe and we will be revising and updating the guidance from Public Health and Worksafe, working with the communities and each business and group,” said Provincial Health Officer, Dr.Bonnie Henry.

The provincial total has reached 17,716, and with 9 new cases in the North, the region total is now 459.

Over 100 people are battling the virus in hospital BC-wide, 31 of whom are in ICU.

There has been one new Health Care outbreak, and there are now 37 active health care facility outbreaks province-wide.

“This will give us a chance to stop the transmission, to have a break in that rising transmission rate that we are seeing,” added Henry, “the next two weeks are critical for us now.”

BREAKDOWN BY REGION:

Northern Health – 459 (+9)

Interior Health – 857 (+22)

Vancouver Coastal – 5,491 (+22)

Fraser Health – 10,520 (+411)

Island – 289 (+3)

Outside of Canada – 90 (=)

LIST OF NEW RESTRICTIONS FOR VANCOUVER COASTAL/FRASER HEALTH UNTIL NOVEMBER 23rd at 12PM:

– No social gatherings with anyone outside your household (funerals and weddings may proceed with people in your immediate household)

TRAVEL:

-Only essential travel is recommended to and from the region.

-Travel for sports into and out of the region is suspended

GROUP PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

-Businesses and Recreation Centre’s (Spin classes, yoga classes, group fitness, dance classes etc) need to be approved by a local medical health officer

-All sports where physical distancing cannot be sustained will be suspended (does not apply to physical activities that are a school-based program)

-No Indoor competitions or games

-Reduced spectators are still being advised (Indoor and Outdoor)

WORKPLACE SAFETY: (Businesses can be shut down if found to not be adhering to new temporary guidelines)

-All workplaces/worksites must conduct active, in-person screening according to COVID-Safety plans for their workers currently on-site

-Workplaces must ensure that all customers and workers maintain appropriate physical distancing (especially vigilant in small officers and break rooms and kitchens)

-Actively supporting working from home if possible

-Public Health Care Inspections will be increasing in businesses

-Perimeter (Party buses, limousines) seating vehicles are ordered to shut down immediately