Dr. Bonnie Henry announced outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people are now allowed. (flickr/Gov't of B.C.)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

covid-19 update

First restrictions ease, outdoor gatherings up to 10 allowed

Mar 11, 2021 | 1:43 PM

NANAIMO — British Columbians have been given the all clear for small safe outdoor social gatherings.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Thursday, March 11 announced outdoor get-togethers of up to 10 people are now allowed.

“This means your children can have a play date with their friends over the March break, but with their same group of friends and if they’re in school, the group of friends they’re in a cohort with in school,” Dr. Henry said.

Dr. Henry stressed the amended public gathering rule means it’s okay to meet friends and family outdoors, but social distancing and mask wearing must continue even outdoors.

“We don’t want to put people at risk right now when we know we’ll have vaccines that will protect us in the very near future.”

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Indoor social gatherings beyond your immediate household are still banned in B.C.

Public health orders restricting non essential travel remain in place province-wide.

With St. Patrick’s Day approaching on Wednesday, March 17, adjustments were made about restrictions for restaurants, bars and pubs. They can’t serve alcohol from 8 p.m. on the 17 to 9 a.m. the next day.

Dr. Henry said these amendments are in line with what was introduced for New Year’s Eve.

“That is really to protect our businesses and to protect the people who work in those businesses as well as make sure that we don’t have an explosive increase of cases because of an event,” Dr. Henry said. “Right now we need to save those parties for the summer.”

A further 569 new cases were announced across the province.

Island Health saw 42 new cases on Thursday, the highest increase seen in one day since the end of January.

There’s currently 219 cases active, with slightly more than half in the central Vancouver Island area.

Thursday marked Island Health’s third worst day for new cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is a data discrepancy between Island Health and the province, based on the timing of COVID-19 results. NanaimoNewsNOW reports local verified data from Island Health.

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