BC and Alberta health ministers issue statement against interprovincial travel

As the long weekend approaches, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix and Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro have issued a joint statement imploring residents in both provinces to avoid interprovincial travel.

In their statement, both ministers recognize that “Albertans and British Columbians have deep and historic ties,” and “a typical long weekend is something we look forward to throughout the year.”

However, “these are extraordinary times, and this long weekend is different.”

The ministers note that the coronavirus pandemic “puts us all at risk – and we all must stay home, stay in our communities, and stay at a safe physical distance from others when outside.”

And while they understand that “spending a holiday away from people we care about is difficult,” both ministers agree that “what we are doing matters.”

They stress that “staying home means no travelling – especially across our borders.”

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Instead, both ministers encourage everyone to find ways to connect virtually this long weekend, including by video chat or with phone calls.

“Please continue to make every effort to protect loved ones, our elders and our health-care workers,” they add. “Now, more than ever, we need you to keep it up. Together, we are helping slow the spread of COVID-19.”