COVID-19 Provincial Support and Information
Our priority is to protect British Columbians and ensure our province is best positioned to effectively respond to the pandemic.
Last Updated: March 27, 2020
The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control is the best source for COVID-19 health information. Get COVID-19 health information
Essential Information
- List of essential services for B.C.
- COVID-19 BC Gov Newsroom updates
- Government and Provincial Health Officer press conference videos
- You must follow Provincial Health Officer (PHO) orders. In a Provincial State of Emergency, the PHO can make orders as needed
Check Symptoms Online
- If you are feeling unwell, you can check your symptoms online or download the self-assessment app
- These resources are available 24 hours a day
Child Care
- Parents who can should care for their children at home
- Temporary emergency funding is is available for child care centres
Education
- K-12 learning is suspended in all classrooms
- Most post-secondary education is now being delivered online
- B.C. student loan payments are frozen for six months until September 30, 2020
- The Government of Canada has paused the repayment of Canada Student Loans until September 30, 2020, with no accrual of interest
Employment & Finances
- The BC Emergency Benefit for Workers provides a one-time $1,000 payment for people who lost income
- A one-time enhancement to the climate action tax credit will be paid in July 2020 for moderate to low-income families
- Employers must excuse workers for sickness without requiring a doctor’s note
- Taking unpaid, job-protected leave due to COVID-19
- Government of Canada support for workers
- WorkSafeBC resources for workers
Businesses
- Some provincial taxes have been deferred, delayed or reduced
- What you must do if employees fall ill, are absent from work or your business is unexpectedly disrupted
- Economic resources for businesses
- Government of Canada support for businesses
- WorkSafeBC resources for employers
- BC Arts Council support for the arts and culture sector
Housing & Monthly Bills
- Support for renters and landlords include a new temporary rental supplement, halting evictions and freezing rents
- BC Housing has temporarily suspended evictions of tenants in subsidized and affordable housing
- BC Hydro customers can defer payments or access grants to help pay their hydro bills
Transportation
- BC Ferries is operating at reduced capacity, advises against non-essential travel
- ICBC insurance renewals can now be done by phone or email
- ICBC has postponed road tests and all other assessments
- ICBC customers can defer monthly payments for up to 90 days
- BC Transit fares and passes are not required
- Translink fares and passes are not required
- DriveBC travel restrictions for highways, rest areas and borders
Travel & Tourism
- People who have travelled outside of Canada and returned after March 12, 2020 must self-isolate
- Canadians who are abroad must register with the Government of Canada
- Global Affairs Canada is offering emergency loans for people abroad attempting to return to Canada
- The Canada-U.S. border is closed to all non-essential traffic
- BC Parks campgrounds and accommodations are closed until April 30. The Discover Camping reservation system is suspended
- Destination BC resources for the tourism industry
Reduced Services
- Service BC centres remain open for core services
- BC Parks has suspended services and closed facilities in most provincial parks
- Recreation Sites and Trails BC has suspended services and closed facilities in most locations
- FrontCounterBC has closed all in-person locations
- BC Liquor Stores remain open with reduced hours
- BC Cannabis Stores online orders must be collected from a post office
- Vital Statistics Vancouver office is closed
Being Prepared
Health Care
- The MSP coverage wait period is waived for those returning from COVID-19 impacted areas
- 5 steps to manage COVID-19 stress, anxiety and depression
