With the Family Day long weekend just ahead, British Columbia’s premier is pleaded with people to stay close to home due to COVID-19.
During a brief press conference held Wednesday, Premier John Horgan urged British Columbians not to travel this Family Day long weekend.
“We have Family Day just around the corner, oftentimes, an opportunity for people to get together, to travel, to experience the beauty of British Columbia, perhaps leave the province and go elsewhere, that is not what we are doing this year,” he said. “This year, we want you to stay tight and close to your family here in B.C..”
With a population of more than five million people, Horgan said data suggests that British Columbia has done very well at handling the pandemic, but that not everyone has faired well.
“We have collectively done very very well over the past 12 months and I appreciate that it doesn’t feel that way for many British Columbians, particularly those who have seen family members lose their life as a result of COVID-19, to those who have seen their businesses rocked by the transformation of our communities as a result of pandemic protocols,” he said.
Horgan said everyone is “in this together” and encouraged people to reflect on the positives and negatives that have occurred over the past 12 months during the pandemic.
“I think it is important as we come into Family Day, that we reflect on that,” he said. “Maybe the blessings that we have in our community and also the challenges that others have in theirs, that is what kept us going together over the past number of months and that is what will keep us together as we await the arrival of vaccines,” he said.
Horgan’s media availability comes a day after British Columbian health officials announced an additional 435 cases of COVID-19 across the province, with 23 of those cases linked to the Island Health region.
Vancouver Island has now reported 109 new cases over the last four days, moving the active case count to 235.
Since the last time Horgan held a media availability, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the indefinite extension of the current COVID-19 restrictions as well. These restrictions include the limitations on gatherings with people outside of a resident’s household, as well as the suspension of all events in British Columbia.
A written statement with Wednesday’s COVID-19 numbers will follow Horgan’s availability later in the afternoon.
Graham Cox
Nicholas Pescod
