COVID-19 health and safety measures, first adopted in British Columbia’s Central Okanagan, are now being extended throughout the Interior Health Region.
This statement was made during a press conference with Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix on August 20, 2021. The said new Interior Health measures had also taken effect at midnight last Friday.
According to Henry, there was a steady rise of COVID-19 transmission all over the Interior Health region, but primarily among unvaccinated individuals. She added that one of the critical factors for the spike in infection is the continuing wildfire in the British Columbia area that has already displaced more than a thousand residents.
Besides making it mandatory for anyone above the age of 12 to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces, there are also changes applied regarding indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Indoor gatherings are restricted to five (5) other guests or one other household. As for indoor organized meetings and outdoor personal gatherings, only up to fifty (50) individuals can participate. Moreover, COVID-19 safety measures should also be strictly observed during indoor organized meetings.
While low-intensity group activities are still permitted, high-intensity group activities are held off.
Additionally, regardless of vaccination status, residents of British Columbia are likewise advised not to travel to the Interior.
