Communities like Kamloops, Merritt and Clearwater are no longer under local states of emergency from COVID-19.

The government is suspending those declarations, to free up local governments to take other measures during the pandemic.

Premier John Horgan says the province doesn’t want a patchwork of restrictions.

“One of the earlier questions was about how do we ensure continuity of information, reduce confusion to the greatest extent possible. And if you have different jurisdictions in different parts of the province evoking different powers that are inconsistent with their neighbours, that leads to, first of all, a leap-frogging effect.”

Also today, the province has banned “secondary resale” of food, medical supplies, personal protective gears like masks, as well as other supplies.

It has also enabled bylaw officers to enforce provincial measures like bans on gatherings.

“People engaging in that behavior can expect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says.

The B.C. government says these are “unprecedented steps” being taken during the pandemic.