The province posted a record high number of COVID-19 cases over the weekend, however none were in Island Health. (flickr/BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FAMILY GATHERINGS

New order limiting household gatherings as B.C. posts over 800 new cases, none in Island Health

Oct 26, 2020 | 3:26 PM

NANAIMO — B.C. public health is cracking down on a key source of recent COVID-19 cases in response to record-high case counts.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a new public health order on Monday, Oct. 26 limiting the number of people at home-based gatherings to the immediate members of that household plus what Henry called a “safe six.”

“This is something we need to do together as a community so we can get through the coming respiratory season and best protect each and every one of our families and communities.”

The order comes as B.C. posted a record 817 new cases over a three day period, however none were in Island Health.

As of Monday, 2,352 cases were active in B.C. with 77 people in hospital including 26 people in intensive care. No active cases are currently hospitalized in Island Health.

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Over the weekend, the number of active cases in Island Health dropped from 15 to nine, including five within central Vancouver Island.

Dr. Henry said many of the new cases stemmed from family gatherings in the Lower Mainland. She added those in large families living in the one house may need to forego the additional six people to help prevent community transmission.

“Six additional guests may be too many and you may need to consider for the coming months to focus on your own immediate family and look at how you can have your social connections with others in a safe way,” Dr. Henry said.

According to the province, the recent surge in case numbers is a direct result of family gatherings in recent weeks, particularly over the Thanksgiving long weekend.

“We are now seeing some of the effects of family gatherings that happened on the Thanksgiving weekend. These are important celebrations but we are in the middle of a pandemic and we need to take safety precautions to ensure we’re not passing the virus on to people we care about, people we’re closest to.”

The new order comes into effect immediately.

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