British Columbia is bringing in restrictions on events and gatherings until the end of January in an effort to limit the fast-spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant.
It will include a 50 per cent capacity limits for venues like Sandman Centre that hold more than 1,000 people. It will mean the Kamloops Blazers will have to go back to about 2,900 fans at each home game.
Meanwhile, Western Canada Theatre as an example, which puts on plays at the 685-seat Sagebrush Theatre, is not impacted by that order, though their next performance doesn’t open until Feb. 24, 2022.
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, also said all sports tournaments for youth and adults and any related travel is paused until further notice. This will includes events like the annual Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament.
B.C. is also limiting indoor gatherings to you household plus 10 people, or one additional household, as long as everyone is vaccinated.
There will also be no table hopping any more at restaurants and pubs. Henry also said the COVID-19 vaccine cards will be mandatory at all events. Currently, it was only required at events with 50 or more people in attendance.
Further, all organized New Year’s Eve parties have to be cancelled, but Henry said restaurants will be able to host special New Years Eve dinners. She also said there are no limits to the hours in which liquor can be served.
There are no changes to rules with faith gatherings nor are there any travel restrictions between regions in the province.
Henry says the restrictions are necessary to help B.C. flatten the curve that is on the increase, noting we are about a week behind what Ontario is experiencing and that Ontario is about a week behind the United Kingdom.
“We cannot stop cases from happening, but we want to bend that curve down so we don’t have a surge on our hospitals again,” she said.
“I recognize that this unrelenting uncertainty is unsettling. It is so important to support one another. If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or unable to cope, we have resources to support you.”
More to come
