B.C.’s top doctor says health officials are working with bar, restaurant, and nightclub owners as the number of COVID-19 cases in young people continues to increase because of exposure at parties and other social gatherings.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says the province has closed places down if the COVID-19 safety plans are not being followed.

“After we’ve imposed those stricter restrictions, we’ve not seen large numbers of transmission events, and so yes, every business has to have a COVID safety plan,” she said during a press conference last Thursday.

“We are not at the point where we feel that we need to shut the entire industry down, but obviously that’s something we watch carefully. They have an interest in making sure that people are playing by the rules so they can all stay open.”

There were lots of concerns on social media as young people partied on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver on Friday night as well as both Wreck Beach and English Bay Beach on Saturday.

Henry previously said she was hoping to avoid having to force businesses to close up shop once again, as she says that would just drive things underground.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says people who work in bars and restaurants are at the forefront to ensure that those COVID-19 safety plans and public health orders are enforced.

“I want to express my appreciation for them, and [I have] a strong request to everyone to be respectful when people ask you to do that, because they are doing their jobs and they are a vital role in public health when they do so,” he said Friday.

As of Friday, there were now 629 active cases of COVID-19 across B.C., well over double the active count of 278 from July 31. New COVID-19 numbers from this weekend will be released at 3 p.m. today, by Dix, and Dr. Réka Gustafson, the deputy provincial health officer.