Northern Health announced it is maintaining current regional health orders, which cover most of the region, in response to sustained rates of COVID-19 activity and the impact on health care resources.
Northern Health says officials continue to evaluate levels of COVID-19 activity and its ongoing impacts on the healthcare system, individuals, and communities.
Officials have determined there remains a need for regional public health measures to limit transmission, reduce case counts and reduce rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.
The health orders, which cover gatherings and events, was originally implemented on Oct. 14 with an expiry date of midnight Nov. 19.
Now effective midnight Nov. 18 the order expiry date has been removed and current measures will remain in effect pending further assessment of the region's COVID-19 status.
Today (Nov. 18) Northern Health announced there have been 68 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours and there are now 489 active cases in the region.
Throughout B.C. there have been 468 new cases of COVID-19 today and there are 3,345 active cases in the province. Of the active cases, 355 individuals are currently in hospital and 110 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
In Northern Health there are 43 people currently in hospital and 18 of them are in critical care.
In the past day, there have also been nine more deaths in the province including two in Northern Health.
The province is also reporting that from Nov. 10-16, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 60.4 per cent of cases and from Nov. 3-16, they accounted for 70.3 per cent of hospitalizations.
The Northern Health Gatherings and Events COVID-19 Order, which has been extended until further notice, includes:
- Personal gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, are restricted to fully vaccinated people, including at private residences and vacation accommodation
- Indoor gathering: up to 5 people are permitted
- Outdoor gathering: up to 25 people are permitted
- All indoor and outdoor organized events require a safety plan and for attendees to wear a mask and present their BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated
- Indoor event: up to 50 people are permitted
- Outdoor event: up to 100 people are permitted
- Worship services: virtual services are required
- Restaurants:
- Fast-food restaurants and unlicensed cafés without table service can provide take-out only or require patrons to present the BC Vaccine card showing they are fully vaccinated.
- Licensed establishments and those with table service must not serve alcohol between 10 p.m.-9 a.m. and must require patrons to present the BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated.
- Bars and nightclubs (no meal service) will be closed
- Sport events spectators (indoor and outdoor) are limited to 50 per cent capacity, must have a safety plan, and require attendees to wear masks and present their BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated
