Dr. Henry urges BC to remember goals behind new COVID-19 restrictions

BC’s provincial health officer hopes residents listen to the intention behind health orders meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 instead of trying to find loopholes.

At her news conference Monday, Dr. Bonnie Henry said she wants all British Columbians to put public health safety measures at the top of their priority list every day.

“Instead of thinking ‘how can I find my way around this?’ think ‘how can I stop the spread?'” she said.

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Henry issued several new public health orders on November 19 where she barred all indoor and outdoor gatherings with people outside one’s immediate household, cancelled all indoor and outdoor community events (with the exception of weddings, funerals, and baptisms, which are limited to 10 people), and made face masks mandatory in all indoor public spaces.

In addition, she strongly discouraged non-essential travel — asking people to postpone their vacations to Tofino or Whistler for at least the next two weeks.

Henry understands there will be questions surrounding every new set of public health rules, but she wants people to remember the goal behind the restrictions: bringing down new COVID-19 infections.

“Rather than thinking where the shortcuts are, we all need to focus on making a difference today.”