Via CBC News: B.C. brings in sweeping new measures to control COVID-19, including mandatory masks. And not a minute too soon. Excerpt:
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has announced wide-ranging new rules for controlling the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory masks in indoor public and retail spaces, and restricting social gatherings to household members only for everyone across B.C.
The new orders and guidelines come as another 538 cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in B.C., and one more person has died. As of Thursday, there are 6,929 active cases of the virus across the province — the highest total to date — including a record high 217 patients in hospital, of whom 59 are in intensive care.
"We're seeing increased community transmissions and effects on our hospitals in all areas of the province," Henry said Thursday as she announced a long list of new measures meant to stem the second wave of COVID-19.
"We need to relieve the stress on our health-care systems, or else people with all types of urgent care needs will suffer."
Henry said Thursday that she is extending an earlier order limiting social gatherings in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions until Dec. 7 and making it apply provincewide.
That means no one should be meeting for social reasons with anyone outside of their immediate household, although a distanced walk with a friend or arranging for grandparents to pick up the kids from school is still acceptable.
She's also asked Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth to implement a requirement for workers and members of the public to wear masks in all retail environments, restaurants and indoor public spaces, including common areas of workplaces, except when eating or drinking. The order for mandatory masks is effective Thursday.
High-risk indoor group fitness activities, including high intensity interval training, hot yoga and spin classes will be suspended as well.
