Provincial health authorities have announced new restrictions in the Central Okanagan as the COVID-19 outbreak has grown from 320 cases to 1,200 in Interior Health in the past week.
In a hastily announced Aug. 6 press conference, the health minister, Adrian Dix, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, and Interior Health Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sue Pollock, announced new restrictions for the Central Okanagan, adding to restrictions announced on July 28:
COVID-19 outbreak declared in Central Okanagan, new local restrictions ordered
The new restrictions include:
-Outdoor personal gatherings limited to 50 people
-Indoor personal gatherings limited to 5 people or one other household
-Indoor seated organized gatherings limited to 50 people with safety measures
-Outdoor events are limited to 50 people with a COVID-19 safety plan in place
-Nightclubs and bars are closed, restaurants back to limitations on outdoor gatherings limited to six people.
-Liquor serving limited to 10 p.m.
-Casinos remain open under restrictions
-Indoor low intensity allowed with limits, but high intensity is suspended
-House and houseboat gatherings limited to five people
-Mask mandate continues for all indoor public places
Most of the restrictions are in place immediately, event-related restrictions take effect after the weekend.
Delta-driven outbreak hitting young people
The new wave is driven by transmissions in people aged 20-40, Dr. Henry said. “That’s where we’re seeing the spread,” she said, adding that most of the transmissions are happening in social settings including gatherings, restaurants, clubs, and health clubs. “This virus is spreading rapidly. It is much more transmissible,” Henry said.
“We’re now seeing spillover into our health care system,” Henry said, adding that it was impacting health care staffing.
“This is not where we wanted to be, obviously, right now,” Henry said. “These steps, we believe, will help us to contain the virus.”
Dr. Sue Pollock noted that the outbreak is “also began to creep into our long-term care homes.”
In Interior Health there are currently four outbreaks:
-Nelson Jubilee Manor has four cases: one resident and three staff.
-Kootenay Street Village in Cranbrook has three cases: one resident and two staff.
-Brookhaven Care Centre in West Kelowna has 13 cases: four residents and nine staff.
-Cottonwoods Care Centre long-term care in Kelowna has four resident cases.
The Central Okanagan includes Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country and several nearby smaller communities.
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