The City of Burnaby has taken action to shut down a number of its recreation program in response to a public health order announced on Saturday.
“Due to a Provincial Health Order, all affected indoor sports, group fitness, cycling, yoga and dance classes are cancelled in our facilities from November 8 until further notice,” said a statement by the city. “Refunds or credits will be provided to anyone who has registered in advance for these programs.”
B.C. provincial health officer Bonnie Henry issued a series of regional health orders and strong recommendations that will be in effect for two weeks as a result of what she called a "worrisome increase of people with serious [COVID-19] illness requiring hospitalization and intensive care." Her focus at a rare Saturday news conference was on social gatherings, travel, group physical activities, indoor group activities and workplaces.
The new directives will be in effect in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions, with the exception of the Central Coast in Bella Coola Valley.
"Right now, it is very important that everyone in these areas of Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health significantly reduce their social interactions," Henry said. "There are to be no social gatherings of any size with anyone other than your immediate household."
Previously, Henry had said that indoor gatherings with fewer than 50 people were OK but this order supersedes that directive.
Still, without elaborate explanation, she left wriggle-room for some social gatherings.
"Funerals and weddings may proceed with your immediate household but there are to be no associated receptions inside or outside your home or at any public or community-based venues," she said.
Another set of statements that were seemingly at odds were that Henry first said that she did not consider going to churches or other houses of worship to be social gatherings, then she said: "I know it has been hard for many people not to come together and worship together or have their ceremonies together, but we cannot do that yet."
She stressed that the new directives issued were for a limited time, and said "this is what we need to do now."
Henry said group physical activities have led to a significant spread of COVID-19 – the virus that has caused a global pandemic.
"As of today, businesses, recreation centres or other organizations that organize or operate indoor group physical activities, must stop holding these activities, until updated COVID-19 safety plans are in place so they can be held safely," Henry said.
Those updated safety plans would need to be approved by local medical health officers, she added.
"This includes spin classes, yoga classes, group fitness, dance classes, or other group indoor activities, where people are increasing their heart rate," she said. "We have seen repeatedly, not just here, but around the world, that these are venues that we see rapid spread of this virus, even with people who don't recognize that they are ill."
The new ban includes indoor competitions and games, including sports such as minor hockey.
Party buses, she said, are also banned.
- With files from Glen Korstrom
