B.C. declares COVID-19 outbreak in Central Okanagan, reimposes mask mandate

British Columbia is declaring a COVID-19 outbreak in the Central Okanaganafter a rapid rise in cases in the regionand is reimposing a local mask mandate, as well as other public health measures.

More than half of B.C.'sdaily and activeCOVID-19 cases are concentrated in the area,Provincial Health OfficerDr. Bonnie Henry said Wednesday duringa teleconference.

"We are concerned in public health about the rapid increase in the Central Okanagan, particularly around the Kelowna area," said Henry, who wasjoined by Health Minister Adrian Dixand Dr. Sue Pollock, chief medical health officer forInterior Health.

Under the new health order, masks willbe mandatory as of midnight in indoor public spaces for anyone over the age of 12. They are alsobeing encouragedoutdoors when people cannot physically distance themselves.

Travel discouraged

Travelto and from the region,which includes Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country, is also being strongly discouraged unless individualsare fully immunized.

"It's time to slow down and step back to protect our community," Pollocksaid atthe teleconference.

She said the region will also be reducing the interval between first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 28 days.

A return to normal for gatherings was announced on July 1 as part of Step 3 of the province'srestart plan, but Pollock saidit's recommendedthat peoplein the Okanagan avoid indoor gatherings in favour of outdoor ones.

Casinos, nightclubs, fitness studios are all still allowed to stay open in the area, but no dancing or mingling is allowed.Officials alsopromised greater enforcement in fitness studios, where they have seen linked cases.

Pollocksaid the new cases in Interior Health since July 1 haveprimarily involved people who are 20 to40 years old and those who are not fully vaccinated.

On Wednesday, 185 new cases were announced in B.C., 113 of those inInterior Health.

In the last week, anumber of businesses in the Central Okanagan have been forced to close because of illness. Pollock saysenforcement will be stepped upas officials follow up with establishments where three or more cases of COVID-19 have occurred.

"It's just disappointing that we have to implementthese restrictions.But given the climbing case count, it's the appropriate thing to do," KelownaMayor Colin Basransaid after the announcement.

Basran said he's thankful further measuresweren't taken, but warned it could get worseif people don't take the restrictionsseriously.

Henry saidthe spread of the delta variant in the area is especially concerning, but she believes the new measures will help flatten the spike in numbers.

"Because of the good work we have all done, I am confident that the measures that we are going to take will stop people from getting sick and will prevent ongoing transmission," shesaid.

She said vaccination remains incredibly important: "Immunization is really the tool that gets us through this."