The B.C. government enacted additional restrictions in the eastern Fraser Valley on Tuesday, amid high COVID-19 cases and low vaccination rates.
Municipalities affected are Chilliwack, Hope, Mission, Agassiz/Harrison, and Abbotsford.
“That is now putting the strain on our hospitals, whether it’s the Chilliwack hospital that just had an outbreak, Abbotsford hospital and the hospitals across Fraser Health,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told a weekly COVID-19 briefing.
“Which means that not only are people with COVID having challenges and stressing (intensive care units), but people with other conditions are having surgeries postponed, are not able to get the care they need.”
The eastern Fraser Valley is the latest region that has seen a return to stricter rules to prevent the spread of COVID, after the Central Okanagan in late July and the Northern Health region earlier this month.
The Agassiz/Harrison area continues to be among the most problematic regions for COVID spread.
According to the latest regional breakdown, the community is averaging 50 new cases per 100,000 people a day, making it the sixth highest rate of spread in B.C.
Meanwhile, only 73 per cent of eligible residents have been fully immunized, trailed by 69 per cent of people in both Chilliwack and Mission, and 66 per cent of people in Hope.
Compare that to the provincial rate of 80.5 per cent.
Under the new restrictions, private gatherings will be limited to five additional people or one other household in the region.
Outdoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people unless everyone is fully vaccinated.
For organized events, the maximum will be 10 people inside or 50 outside, but the capacity limits can be expanded if everyone is fully immunized.
Event organizers with capacities higher than 10 people indoors will be required to check vaccine cards for proof of full immunization.
Proof of full immunization is not needed for indoor events elsewhere in B.C. until Oct. 24.
“We need to take action now to increase vaccination rates and to reduce the transmission rates in those high-risk settings in our community,” Henry said.
“We know that, if we are coming together, particularly indoors where this transmission can happen very quickly and rapidly with the Delta variant that we’re seeing transmitted right now, we can mitigate that by being fully vaccinated.”
The shift in policy will include Abbotsford Canucks hockey games and other larger events.
Full vaccination will also be required for all indoor adult sports, exercise and fitness, including gyms and high- and low-intensity fitness.
Outdoor adult sport events will be limited to 50 participants unless all have been fully vaccinated.
Organizers must keep a contact list of guests and have COVID safety plans in place.
Masks must also be worn in all indoor workplaces, subject to some exemptions and safety considerations.
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