Operators and owners and campgrounds and RV parks in Island Health must now collect contact information from each patron under a new public health order.
Island Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Richard Stanwick, has issued the public health order on Friday to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 at campgrounds and RV parks. The order takes effect today.
“This is an important step as we continue to see a rise in the number of positive cases throughout the province and within our health region,” Island Health said in a statement.
The contact information collected includes names and phone numbers to enable contact tracing. The information must be kept for a period of 30 days.
“We need to do everything we can to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and we know effective contact tracing plays a significant role,” Dr. Stanwick said in a statement.
“I appreciate the support of Tourism Vancouver Island in our collective efforts to help protect our families, friends and those who may be most at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus during the winter months.”
“We want to see our communities stay as safe as possible by educating visitors who have chosen to travel within our region and do so responsibly in accordance with current public health orders and guidelines,” Anthony Everett, President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver Island said in a statement.
“We hope to see Vancouver Island strike a balance between health and safety and supporting the survival of our tourism industry which is vital to Islanders.”
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry recently issued an order prohibiting all gatherings in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health regions. She has also asked those of us who live within Island Health to postpone any unnecessary travel to the Lower Mainland.
“Island Health has been working closely with WorksafeBC and will also work with RV and Campground operators to help keep people visiting their sites, and those in the community, safe,” Gethsemane Luttrell, Director of Public Health Protection & Assessment with Island Health, said in a statement.
“Our Environmental Health Officers will visit RV sites and campgrounds to provide the information necessary to ensure compliance of this order.”
Island Health says the new order means public health teams will be able to trace any potential source of COVID-19, and provides important information about people who may travel through the Lower Mainland or come from other parts of Canada to Vancouver Island.
Island Health is also reminding people to:
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- stick with six, keep 2m/6ft apart;
- stay home when sick;
- wash hands frequently;
- wear a mask when we can’t stay apart.
Island Health said its medical health officers continue to closely monitor COVID-19 case numbers and, depending on the trajectory, may further expand orders as necessary.
The health region recorded 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, a new daily record.
CHEK News
