Provincial and regional restrictions

Some provincial restrictions remain in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions are made by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) under the Public Health Act. Regional restrictions may be in place for health authorities with lower vaccination rates.

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Last updated: October 15, 2021

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Regional restrictions by health authority

Some health authorities have additional restrictions in place for regions with lower vaccination rates. Orders are made by a region's Medical Health Officer.

Fraser Health

Fraser Health has restrictions in place for the Fraser East Health Service Delivery Area (PDF, 2MB):

  • Abbotsford
  • Agassiz
  • Chilliwack
  • Harrison Hot Springs
  • Hope
  • Mission
 

Regional restrictions in Fraser Health (Fraser East region)

Personal gatherings

People who are fully vaccinated

If all people age 12 or older are fully vaccinated, there are no restrictions on indoor or outdoor personal gatherings at private residences or vacation accommodations. 

People who are not fully vaccinated

Indoor personal gatherings in private residences are limited to your household plus 5 visitors or one other household.

Outdoor personal gatherings at private residences are limited to your household plus up to 10 visitors, who must remain outside. 

​Organized gatherings

People who are fully vaccinated

Province-wide indoor and outdoor gathering capacity limits remain in place, with 3 additional requirements:

  • All people must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination to attend.
    • Examples of organized gatherings include ticketed events like sports, movies, plays, and festivals, indoor adult sport, fitness or dance activities
  • Organizers must collect contact information from all people
  • Events must have a COVID-19 safety plan

People who are not fully vaccinated

People who are not fully vaccinated:

  • Can't attend ticketed events like movies, plays, festivals and sports
  • Can attend indoor organized gatherings that are limited to 10 people
  • Can attend outdoor organized gatherings that are limited to 50 people

Workplaces

You must wear a mask in all indoor workspaces, unless:

  • You are alone in a room or there is a barrier between you and other people
  • Wearing a mask would interfere with the safe performance of your work duties
  • You have a valid exemption

Workplaces must have a COVID-19 safety plan in place as part of the workplace's Communicable Disease Plan. 

Increased proof of vaccination requirements and the BC Vaccine Card

Proof of vaccination is required to access some events, services and businesses.

In the Fraser East region, you must be fully vaccinated to meet the requirement. You're fully vaccinated with 2 doses of vaccine. This applies to:

  • Ticketed events like sports, concerts, theatre and dance
  • Nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres
  • Gyms, exercise and dance facilities or studios
  • Businesses offering indoor exercise and fitness
  • Indoor organized group recreational classes and activities with more than 10 people
    • For example, pottery studios, art classes or choir rehearsals
  • Outdoor organized events with more than 50 people

The restrictions do not apply to programs for children or youth. 

Review full details on the Fraser Health website.

Interior Health

Interior Health has restrictions in place for every community in their health authority.

 

Regional restrictions in Interior Health

Personal gatherings

Indoor personal gatherings are limited to your household plus 5 visitors or one other household.

Gatherings in vacation rentals are limited to your household plus 5 visitors or one other household.

Outdoor personal gatherings (for example, birthday parties or backyard barbecues) are limited to no more than 50 people.

​Organized gatherings

People who are fully vaccinated

Province-wide indoor and outdoor gathering capacity limits remain in place, with 1 additional requirement:

  • All people must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination

People who are not fully vaccinated

You can only attend indoor organized gatherings with less than 50 people, or outdoor organized gatherings with less than 100 people.

  • Organizers must collect contact information from all people

Schools

Indoor assemblies are limited to 50 people or 2 classes (whichever is larger) in a single space.

Visitors should be limited to those involved with activities benefiting student learning and well-being. For example, teacher candidates, immunizers and meal program volunteers.

Extracurricular school sport events and social activities

Players, coaches and volunteers on the field of play do not require proof of vaccination.

Proof of vaccination is not required for spectators at indoor school events with less than 50 people or outdoor school events with less than 100 people.

  • Proof of full vaccination is required for events that exceed these capacity limits

Exercise

Participants and instructors of indoor high intensity group exercise must be fully vaccinated. 

Sports

You must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination to:

  • Be a spectator at indoor youth and adult sporting events with more than 50 people
  • Be a spectator at outdoor youth and adult sporting events with more than 100 people
  • Participate in adult group and team sports for people 22 years old or older

Review full details on the Interior Health website.

Northern Health

Northern Health has restrictions in place for every community in their health authority. Restrictions vary by your local health area.

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Local health areas east of Gitwangak (Kitwanga)

Restrictions apply to all communities in Northern Health, except some local health areas in the northwest.

Personal gatherings

All people ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated.

  • Indoor personal gatherings are limited to your household plus up to 5 visitors or one other household
    • Everyone must wear a mask or practice 2 metre physical distancing
  • Outdoor gatherings are limited to your household, plus up to 25 people

People who are not fully vaccinated can only gather with their own household.

Organized gatherings

All people aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated and show proof of full vaccination.

  • Indoor events are limited to 50 people
  • Outdoor events are limited to 100 people

Faith gatherings

Worship services can only be held virtually.

Restaurants, bars and nightclubs

Fast food restaurants and unlicensed cafés without table service can either:

  • Provide take-out service only
  • Require all patrons to show proof of vaccination using the BC Vaccine Card

Licensed establishments, establishments that offer table service, and liquor manufacturing facilities with tasting rooms without full meal service:

  • Cannot serve alcohol between 10 pm and 9 am
  • Must require all patrons to show proof of vaccination using the BC Vaccine Card

Bars and nightclubs that do not offer full meal service must close.

Sports

Indoor and outdoor sporting events are limited to 50% spectator capacity and must have a COVID-19 safety plan. All spectators aged 5 and older must wear a mask, and all spectators aged 12 and older must show proof of full vaccination. 

All participants aged 22 and older must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. By October 24, 2021, all participants aged 22 and older must be fully vaccinated.

Travel

Non-essential travel outside your community is strongly discouraged.

 

Local health areas west of Gitwangak (Kitwanga)

Different restrictions are in place for the following local health areas:

  • Haida Gwaii
  • Kitimat
  • Nisga'a
  • Prince Rupert
  • Snow Country
  • Stikine
  • Telegraph Creek
  • Terrace

Personal gatherings

Indoor personal gatherings are limited to your household plus 5 visitors or one other household.

Outdoor personal gatherings are limited to 50 people.

Organized gatherings

A COVID-19 safety plan is required for:

  • Outdoor gatherings with more than 200 people
  • All indoor events
  • Indoor and outdoor sporting events that have spectators

Review full details on the Northern Health website.

PHO order on masks in public indoor settings

This content is a summary of the verbal PHO order on face coverings. It is not legal advice and does not provide an interpretation of the law. In the event of any conflict or difference between this webpage and the order, the order is correct and legal and must be followed. 

Masks are required in all public indoor settings for all people born in 2016 or earlier (5+). 

This includes:

  • Malls, shopping centres
  • Grocery and liquor stores
  • Airports
  • Coffee shops
  • On public transportation, in a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle
  • Libraries
  • Clothing and retail stores
  • Areas of office buildings where services to the public are provided
  • Common areas of sport and fitness centres when not engaged in physical activity
  • Common areas of post-secondary institutions and non-profit organizations
  • Inside schools, including all K to 12 students
  • Drug stores
  • Community centres
  • Recreation centres
  • City Halls
  • Restaurants, pubs and bars when not seated at a table

There are exemptions for:

  • People with health conditions or with physical, cognitive or mental impairments who cannot wear one
  • People who cannot remove a mask on their own
  • Children under the age of 5
  • People who need to remove their masks to communicate due to another person's hearing impairment

A face shield is not a substitute for a mask as it has an opening below the mouth.

Note: The order will be reassessed when proof of vaccination and the BC Vaccine Card are fully implemented. 

PHO order on gatherings and events

This content is a summary of the PHO order – Gatherings and Events (PDF, 417KB) document. It is not legal advice and does not provide an interpretation of the law. In the event of any conflict or difference between this webpage and the order, the order is correct and legal and must be followed. 

Personal gatherings

There are no restrictions on indoor or outdoor personal gatherings. 

Organized gatherings

Organized gatherings have some capacity restrictions. Examples of an organized gathering include wedding ceremonies or funerals. 

Indoor organized gatherings

Indoor organized seated gatherings can have a capacity of 50 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater. For example, if the venue has a normal seated capacity of 500 people, 250 people can attend. 

Outdoor organized gatherings

Outdoor organized seated gatherings can have a capacity of 5,000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater. For example, if the venue has a normal seated capacity of 30,000 people, 15,000 people can attend. 

Organized gatherings by sector

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Fairs, festivals and trade shows

Fairs, festivals and trade shows can return to normal operations with a communicable disease plan. 

 

Worship services

There are no capacity limits or restrictions on indoor or outdoor and worship services. 

 

Workplaces

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.

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

Workplaces will transition from a COVID-19 Safety Plan to a communicable disease plan. Additional safety precautions are required in higher risk workplaces. 

 

Exercise

Indoor high intensity and low intensity group exercise

Indoor high intensity and low intensity group exercise is allowed with normal capacity. 

Gyms, pools and recreation facilities

Gyms, pools and recreation facilities can operate with normal capacity.

Sports

Adult and youth outdoor and indoor group and team sports 

All outdoor and indoor group sports for adults and youth are allowed. This includes:

  • Games
  • Competitions
  • Practices

Spectators

Outdoor sport activities can have 5,000 spectators or 50% seated capacity, whichever is greater. For example, if the venue has a normal seated capacity of 30,000 people, 15,000 spectators can attend. 

Indoor sport activities can have 50 spectators or 50% seated capacity, whichever is greater. For example, if the venue has a normal seated capacity of 500 people, 250 spectators can attend. 

Travel for sport

Travel for sport is allowed. Non-essential travel to or from the Interior is discouraged unless you are fully vaccinated.

PHO order on restaurants, pubs and bars

This content is a summary of the PHO order — Food and Liquor Serving Premises (PDF, 402KB) document. It is not legal advice and does not provide an interpretation of the law. In the event of any conflict or difference between this webpage and the order, the order is correct and legal and must be followed. 

Businesses will transition from a COVID-19 Safety Plan to a communicable disease plan.

Restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs

There are no group limits for indoor and outdoor dining.

  • Venues can determine their own table limits
  • No socializing between tables
  • No dancing
  • Liquor service hours return to normal

Casinos

Casinos can operate with reduced capacity. Gaming stations can operate at approximately 50% capacity across the sector.

Guidance for visiting long-term care or seniors' assisted living facilities

This content is a summary of the PHO order — COVID-19 Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures (PDF, 513KB) document. It is not legal advice and does not provide an interpretation of the law. In the event of any conflict or difference between this webpage and the order, the order is correct and legal and must be followed. 

Larger, facility-wide social events or gatherings, adult day programs and in-facility respite are allowed.

  • Indoor gatherings may include residents and staff across units of a facility
  • Outdoor gatherings may include family and friends

You do not need to schedule an appointment to visit residents in long-term care or seniors' assisted living facilities. There is no limit to the number of visitors for each resident.

Protecting long-term care residents

All visitors must show proof of vaccination before visiting a long-term care or seniors' assisted-living facility. The easiest way to show proof of vaccination is using your BC Vaccine Card.

Currently, all visitors must have at least one dose. Starting October 26, all visitors must be fully vaccinated.

Safety precautions like visitor health screening, hand hygiene and physical distancing will continue.

When to wear a mask at long-term care facilities

  • All visitors must wear medical masks in hallways and common areas
  • You can only remove your mask when visiting residents in their living area if you're fully vaccinated

Enforcement

During a public health emergency under the Public Health Act, the PHO can make orders as needed. You must follow the orders. Some orders can be enforced by police or other compliance and enforcement officials. People who don't follow these orders could be fined.