Province-wide restrictions

Indoor seated organized gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. These could include things like:
 

• An indoor wedding ceremony

Outdoor organized gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. These could include things like:

• A small outdoor concert
• An outdoor wedding ceremony
• Outdoor live theatre performances

The order restricts most formal in-person meetings outside the workplace, with some exceptions including:
 

• The B.C. legislature and cabinet meetings
• City council meetings. It is recommended virtual meetings be held as much as possible. The public is not allowed to attend
• Support groups like Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous
• Critical service meetings

Indoor funerals, wedding ceremonies and baptisms may proceed with a limited number of people and a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. You can have a maximum of 50 people attend, including the officiant.
 

• Up to 50 people may attend, plus 2 extra people to make sure rules are followed
• The event organizer and staff present at the event are not included in the 50 people limit
• If the event organizer also acts as the officiant, that person is included in the 50 people limit

Receptions associated with funerals, weddings or baptisms are not allowed inside homes or venues.

Organizers should review all of the rules and guidelines:
 

• BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) information on event planning
• Guidance for Holding Low Risk Stand-Alone Lifecycle Events – June 6, 2021 (PDF, 429KB)
• Variance: Indoor Worship Services (PDF, 225KB)

Meals for people in need may proceed with a limited number of people and a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. You can have a maximum of 50 people in attendance in addition to the organizer and people assisting. This includes:
 

• Soup kitchens
• Meals at shelters
• Charities offering meals

Pre-packaged meals are the best option to limit gatherings inside a dining area.
 

• Review BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) information on food banks and food distribution

Funerals conducted by a religious body may be held outdoors (including in open-sided tents and under overhead coverings). Before, during and after the funeral service, people must not gather or socially engage.
 

• Up to 50 people may attend, plus 4 extra people to make sure rules are followed

Outdoor seated wedding ceremonies may proceed with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. You can have a maximum of 50 people attend if the space allows for social distancing between guests, including the officiant. Before, during and after the wedding service, people must not gather or engage socially. For example, no receptions or dancing.
 

• Up to 50 people may attend, plus 4 extra people to make sure rules are followed
• The event organizer and staff present at the event are not included in the 50 people limit
• If the event organizer also acts as the officiant, that person is included in the 50 people limit

Organizers should review all of the rules and guidelines:
 

• BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) information on event planning
• Guidance for Holding Low Risk Stand-Alone Lifecycle Events – June 6, 2021 (PDF, 429KB)
• Variance: Outdoor Worship Services (PDF, 259KB)

The limited operation of perimeter seating vehicles and buses is permitted, subject to restrictions respecting hours of operation and distancing of passengers.

Religious worship services of up to 50 people may be held indoors or outdoors (including in open-sided tents and under overhead coverings).

Organizers should review all of the rules and guidelines:
 

• Guidance for Holding Low Risk Worship Services (PDF, 427KB)
• Variance: Inside Worship Services (PDF, 225KB)
• Variance: Outside Worship Services (PDF, 259KB)

Indoor services

• Participants need to wear masks at all times, including when they are seated
• Participants must be 2 metres apart unless they are from the same household

Outdoor services

• Participants need to arrive and leave wearing masks. They can remove masks when they are seated
• Participants must be 2 metres apart unless they are from the same household or if they are all seated

Funerals, weddings and baptisms

Funerals and baptisms have separate rules to follow. Weddings are considered events and follow indoor and outdoor organized gatherings rules.
 

• Indoor funerals, weddings and baptisms
• Outdoor funerals and weddings

Rental and home viewings should be restricted to a maximum of six people, subject to each person present  being able to keep two metres away from every other person present at all times.

Retail businesses are required to continue operating under their COVID-19 Safety Plan. A plan must:
 

• Establish capacity limits based on 5 square metres of unencumbered space per person
• Post occupancy limits
• Where practical, post directional signs to keep people moving in the same direction and not congregating

A workplace that has workers testing positive for COVID-19 and public health confirming transmission has occurred in the work environment may be ordered to close for a minimum of 10 days.

• Review the PHO Delegation: Workplace Closures (PDF, 319KB)

For larger workplaces, the closure may be restricted to the locations where transmission has occurred.

Exceptions will be made for workplaces like:

• Courthouses, police stations and fire halls
• Healthcare facilities, schools, shelters
• Ferry system and public transportation
• Distribution hubs of necessary goods such as food and medicine

Employers are required to continue operating under their COVID-19 Safety Plans and can begin a return to the workplace and small in-person meetings. 

Extracurricular activities

Structured extracurricular activities and programs for children or youth 21 years of age and younger can continue to operate with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. They must be supervised by an adult. These include:
 

• Education programs
• Music
• Art
• Dance
• Drama
• Outdoor exercise
• Recreational programs

Structured extracurricular activities and programs for children or youth are subject to a 50 person limit.

Overnight camps

Overnight camps for youth are allowed to operate. They need to prepare a COVID-19 Safety Plan that aligns with the BC Camps Association COVID-19 Guidelines for Overnight Camps. Camps must submit the COVID-19 Safety Plan to the medical health officer and, if required, make changes to the plan.