COVID UPDATE

Given the recent press release and closure from the Provincial Government as mentioned by Dr. Bonnie Henry, we received the following from North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma and wanted to pass it on to everyone. 

Here is the official press release.

Our efforts to limit social interactions are working. Case transmission is dropping while new treatments and vaccines herald better days ahead,  but — sadly — we are not out of the storm yet.

Yesterday, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that the enhanced restrictions currently in place have been extended through the winter holidays until midnight January 8, 2021. 

This means that all in-person events and social gatherings with people outside of our immediate households (“core bubble“) continue to be banned throughout the province. 

However, exemptions have been added for drive-in, drop-off, and drive-through events as well as meals for people in need.

As before, the “core bubble” for a person who lives alone can include one or two others from outside of their household. 

For example, three people who live alone can join together to form one exclusive “core bubble”. 

A person who lives alone can also join with a 2-person household to form a 3-person “core bubble”. 

The key is that this 3-person core bubble remains consistent and tight for all involved.

I know that this news will be deeply disappointing. 

Not being able to be with loved ones in person during important winter holidays like Yalda, Hanukkah, and Christmas will be difficult to say the least.

I also know that the spirit of love, hope, and giving will remain strong through the holiday season even if our celebrations look different. 

It is in that spirit of giving that we make our sacrifices today so that we might protect the most vulnerable among us and get us all through this pandemic together.

MASKS

? Masks are required in all indoor public settings, all retail stores, and in all shared work areas.

? People with health conditions or with physical, cognitive or mental impairments who cannot wear a mask are exempt.

? People who cannot wear a mask or who cannot put on or remove a mask on their own are exempt.

? Children under 12 years old are exempt.

? People who are working behind barriers on their own do not need to wear masks.

? Restaurant patrons may remove masks while seated.

? Violations may be subject to a $230 fine.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS & EVENTS

✅ Socialize with your immediate household only (ie. “core bubble”).

✅ For people who live alone, a core bubble is a maximum of two people you see regularly.

❌ Do not invite friends or extended family to your household.

❌ Do not gather outdoors.

❌ Do not gather in your backyard.

❌ Do not have play dates for children.

❌ Do not gather at a restaurant or bar with people outside of your “core bubble”.

❌ No in-person events, with the exception of drive-in/drop-off events with COVID-19 Safety Plans.

✅ Funerals, weddings, and other ceremonies may take place with a maximum of 10 people in total.

❌ No receptions of any kind.

❌ No church, synagogue, or mosque services.

✅ Visit your place of worship for individual contemplation or personal prayer.

✅ AA meetings or other medical group sessions may continue.

✅ Parents may carpool kids to and from school.

✅ Grandparents may provide child care.

✅ Tutoring, housekeeping, repairs, maintenance, gardening, or other personal services like support from a care aide may continue.

✅ Go for a walk or run outside.

❌ Do not allow a walk or run to turn into a group of people meeting outside.

ORGANIZED SPORTS & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

❌ No indoor and outdoor team sports for adults (19+).

❌ No high intensity group fitness activities such as: Hot yoga, spin classes, aerobics, boot-camp, circuit training, high intensity interval training (HIIT).

⚠️ Low intensity group fitness activities must temporarily suspend them or move to virtual options, until guidance is developed to allow these activities to resume. These include: Yoga, pilates, light weightlifting, adult dance classes, stretching or strengthening, Tai-Chi

⚠️ Indoor and outdoor sports for youth (18 and under) may continue under viaSport’s Return to Sport Phase 2 guidance. This means games, tournaments and competitions are temporarily suspended for teams.

❌ No spectators at any indoor or outdoor sport activities.

❌ No inter-regional travel for sport activities.

✅ Rehabilitation or exercise therapy programs may continue.

✅ Individual workouts at gyms and pools may continue.

BUSINESSES & WORKSITES

? Masks are required in all indoor public settings, all retail stores, and in all workplaces for shared work areas. Workers working on their own behind barriers do not need to wear masks.

⚠️ All businesses and worksites must conduct active daily screening of all on-site workers using their COVID-19 safety plans.

? Businesses that cannot maintain their plans will be shut down.

? Employers should actively support working from home, if possible.

TRAVEL

⚠️ Avoid all non-essential travel, such as for vacations or social visits. Stay as local as possible.

❌ Out-of-province visitors are strongly discouraged at this time.

✅ Welcoming your child home from university is okay.