Restrictions return to B.C.'s North as COVID-19 numbers spike

Restrictions are returning to B.C.'s Northin response to rising cases of COVID-19 throughoutthe region.

Effective Sept. 7, personal gatherings in homes will be limited to one additional family or five guestswhile outdoor gatherings will belimited to 50 people.

Organized outdoor events of more than 200 people will need a COVID-19 safety plan in place.

In a Thursday afternoon teleconference, Provincial Health OfficerDr. Bonnie Henry sayscases have "exploded" in a number of communities recently.

"We're focusing the efforts, as I mentioned, on areas of greatest transmission and risk, and I know this will be frustrating for some, and particularly in communities where we've not seen transmission for a while," said Henry, who was joined by Health Minister Adrian Dixand Dr. Jong Kim, chief medical health officer of Northern Health.

Henry said outbreaks started in the beginning of August with some in large industrial camps across northern B.C.

When that slowed, regions andcommunitiesincludingNechako, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and Prince George saw high transmission with the spread comingprimarilyfrom social events, officials say.

"It has spread very rapidly, particularly in the last 10 days,'' she said.

Henry said the rate of transmission increased six-foldin a short period of time that led to an increase in hospitalizations and patients filling ICUs.

Dix added that90 per cent of the people in hospital in the northwho are inintensive carehave not been vaccinated.

New measures in addition to mask mandate

She saysthe new measures are in addition to the mask mandate for indoor public settingsthat is already in place across the province.

Although there are no travel restrictions in place, Henry urges anyone who has a trip planned to northern B.C.to reconsider travelling to the region until cases are under control.

B.C. reported 801 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, with 103of them in the Northern Health region. Dix says the regions test positivity rate ismore than double that ofother health authorities in province.

"You can't solve this problem, the problem of low vaccination rates in one day, you do itone arm at a time and that's what we're doing," Dix said.

Last week, health officials announced that starting Sept. 13the province will requireproof of vaccination for certain non-essential activities such as indoor concerts, sporting events, restaurants, bars and movies.

"That is one of the reasons that we've gone to the vaccine card asjust another strategy to nudge those people who have been complacent," Henry said.

She says she is confident that the new measures along with the vaccine cardwill help contain the transmission and reduce case numbers.

Northern Health joins Interior Health inannouncinggreater COVID-19 preventionrestrictionsin response to high case counts.