British Columbia health officials have ordered all indoor gyms and fitness facilities to be closed at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, December 22, due to the potential epidemic of COVID-19.
The announcement was made at a live press conference on Tuesday afternoon by State Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.
New orders will be added to the limits introduced last week.
This order is intended to curb viral infections during the holidays and will remain in effect during January.
As in other parts of the country, the number of cases of COVID-19 is skyrocketing in the state as Omicron variants predominate.
The following restrictions will be in effect from Wednesday, December 22nd, 11:59 pm to at least January 18, 2022.
- Gym and fitness center closed
- Dance studio will be closed
- Sports tournament canceled
In addition to closing, all seated events, regardless of venue size, should be run at 50% capacity. This includes concerts, sports games such as hockey, theaters, cinemas and more.
All events held must be scanned for BC Vaccine Cards and everyone must wear a mask during the event.
Other orders in force include the cancellation of all organized indoor events of all sizes, including weddings, receptions, and festive events. Bars and nightclubs should remain closed, and restaurants, cafes and pubs should be returned to allow up to 6 people per table.
New restrictions on events and personal gatherings came into effect on Monday.
In addition to the orders of state health officials, the state has limited indoor meetings to fully vaccinated individuals in British Columbia, ensuring adequate indoor ventilation and being fully vaccinated. If not, we encourage you to avoid all trips.
BC recorded an average of over 800 new COVID-19 cases per day over the weekend.
At the time of this publication, the state currently has 5,435 active cases.
Currently, the following restrictions apply:
- Indoor private gatherings, including rental properties and villas, are currently limited to one household and ten other individuals, or one household, but only if all attendees are fully vaccinated.Unvaccinated people should not be allowed
- The state is currently requiring all events of all sizes to scan BC vaccine cards – all events need to scan the QR code
- As always, movement between tables in restaurants and other food stores is restricted and you must wear a mask when you are not seated.
- Large-scale events and concerts with over 1,000 attendees, such as Victoria Royals games, run at 50% capacity.
- All sports tournaments in British Columbia will be suspended
- All New Year’s Eve rallies and events are restricted to seated-only events and cannot be mixed or danced.
State health officials also emphasize the need for retailers to implement the COVID-19 Safety Plan for holiday and Boxing Day sales.
