British Columbia is set to lift capacity restrictions on gatherings across much of the province today.
Many B.C. residents will now be allowed to attend events like hockey games, concerts and weddings without any limits on numbers.
But the move is not universal, since capacity will be capped at 50 per cent in areas where vaccination rates are low.
That includes parts of the Fraser, Northern and Interior health regions.
Attendees at all organized events in B.C. will be required to wear face coverings and show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Many business owners welcome the end of capacity limits but say not everyone is ready for pre-pandemic-type parties while they still need to wear masks, especially seniors waiting for booster shots and families with children under 12 who can’t yet be vaccinated.
In addition to event capacity, Dr. Bonnie Henry revealed last week that as of today, sitting requirements at restaurants will be loosened and customers will be able to get up from their tables and move around, although masks will still be required.
Correction: A previous headline on this Canadian Press story indicated that COVID-19 cases have “eased” in British Columbia. In fact, the seven-day rolling average for new cases has been rising since mid-October, hitting 640 on Oct. 20, up from 565 on Oct. 14.
CHEK News
