Health measures and restrictions will remain in place for at least another five weeks to address high rates of COVID-19 transmission, the province says.
Premier John Horgan, Provincial Health Officer Doctor Bonnie Henry along with Health Minister Adrian Dix made the announcement at a press conference today (Monday).
Current restrictions include a ban on indoor dining and fitness groups, as well as indoor social gatherings and events.
“We are in a serious situation, but we require serious measures if we are going to get to the May long weekend and salvage our summer,” said Horgan during the briefing today (Monday).
“Stay in your community. This is not the time to go load up the Winnebago and travel around British Columbia.”
B.C. will also be implementing new travel restrictions on Friday to limit travel between health authorities and provinces.
Bookings from outside of health areas will be eliminated, and random traffic stops will be set up to help enforce the new measures.
“This will include random audits, not unlike roadside stops for counterattack during the Christmas season,” Horgan explained.
“They will be susceptible to all travelers, not just a few. They will be random and there will be a fine given to anyone traveling outside of their region without a legitimate reason.”
Horgan says “no additional authority” will be granted to police, and consultation will be done with BIPOC communities to make sure people aren’t unfairly targeted.
Signs will also be constructed at the B.C. and Alberta border, reminding people to not travel unless it is essential.
Doctor Henry says the provincial curve is slowly trending downwards, meaning the measures are beginning to have an effect.
“We aren’t seeing continued rapid growth, however, we are still in a very challenging situation,” she said.
British Columbians are asked to be mindful of traveling outside of their communities and health regions and reduce indoor and outdoor contacts.
AstraZeneca will be available in pharmacies to people over the age of 40.
“We are doing this after a careful review of the evidence that initially led to a pause in the expanded AstraZeneca vaccine program for younger workers,” said Doctor Henry.
In addition, AstraZeneca will also be used to curb transmission in 13 communities with high caseloads, including Dawson Creek, to complement the pharmacy-based program.
These doses will be going to people over 40 as well, Doctor Henry confirmed.
COVID-19 by the numbers today:
Friday to Saturday – +1,027
Saturday to Sunday – +933
Sunday to Monday – +1,000
Total new cases – +2,960
B.C. total cases – 120,040
B.C. active cases – 9,353
Northern Health active cases – 290
Hospitalizations and ICU – 441/138
New deaths: +8
Death toll: 1538
#Breaking – Tragically, child under two years old is among the 8 deaths from the virus this weekend. This child was in the Fraser Health region. Youngest person to die of COVID-19 in the province. #bcpoli #covid19bc
— Catherine Garrett (@cath_garrett) April 19, 2021
People in isolation: 14,711
Recoveries: 108,919
First vaccine doses: 1,380,160
Second doses: 87,970
Variants of concern:
Total: 5,872
Active: 191
B.1.1.7: 3,908
B.1.351: 71
P.1.: 1,893
Health authority breakdown:Â
Vancouver Coastal – +696
Fraser Health – +1,845
Island Health – +108
Interior Health – +211
Northern Health – +100
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