Updated Northern Health Public Order

Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,

Yesterday, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that the regional gathering restrictions in the Interior Health region have been repealed. Interior Health is now subject to the same rules as the rest of the province, including: province-wide mask mandate, Food and Liquor Serving Premises public order, and Gatherings and Events public order.

NORTHERN HEALTH

The restrictions in Northern Health have been extended to the entire Northern Health region and now expire on January 31, 2022.

The updated restrictions for Northern Health include:

Indoor Events (Seating Required)

  • Defined as a gathering of more than 10 participants in an inside place for the purposes of entertainment, musical, business (lectures, presentation), weddings (ceremony and reception), funerals (ceremony and receptions), ticket parties, inside sports events

  • Up to 50% seated operating capacity allowed

  • Proof of vaccination required for all participants 12 and over

  • Dance floors must be closed except for performances. Patrons must not dance.

  • COVID-19 Safety Plan required

Indoor Events (Seating Not Required)

  • Defined as a gathering of more than 10 participants in an inside place for the purposes of business (conference, convention, trade fair), choral, gambling, recreational classes, adult sports, exercise or fitness activities or classes, programs for children and youth

  • Up to 100% standing operating capacity allowed

  • Proof of vaccination required for all participants 12 and over

  • Dance floors must be closed except for performances. Patrons must not dance.

  • COVID-19 Safety Plan required

For more information on outdoors events and flow through events, please click here.

Restaurants, Bars, Nightclubs

  • Proof of vaccine required for all dine-in patrons

  • Proof of vaccination not required if take-out only

  • Liquor manufacturing facilities with tasting rooms may stay open

  • If a full meal service is provided, premises may stay open, but liquor service must not be served between 10:00 pm and 9:00 am

  • Dance floors must be closed

  • Nightclubs must be closed

For full restrictions in Northern Health, please read the updated regional order and provide-wide orders listed above.

Download this helpful comparison between NH regional and provincial COVID-19 orders for more information.

FRASER HEALTH

The gatherings and events restrictions for the Fraser East health region will remain in place.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.

Update from ABLE BC

We know many of you are deeply concerned about how current restrictions will impact the holiday season.

ABLE BC has been in regular contact and raised these concerns with the Provincial Health Officer and other senior government officials. Unfortunately, as public health assesses the Omicron variant, we do not anticipate dancing will not be reinstated in 2021. The current public health orders are also likely to remain in place until spring.

We know this is not the news you want to hear. ABLE BC continues to advocate on your behalf and we are pushing government for additional financial support, especially for those businesses impacted by regional public health orders.

  • Here are the financial supports currently available for businesses:
    Jobs and Growth Fund: eligible businesses with fewer than 500 full time employees may qualify for interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50% of eligible costs.

  • Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program: offers 100% government-guaranteed loans ranging from $25,000 to $1 million. Loans are low-interest and include terms of up to ten years. Available at participating financial institutions until December 31, 2021.

  • Business Credit Availability Program: available at various financial institutions and credit unions to support businesses in all sectors and regions to obtain financing. Extended until December 31, 2021.

  • BC Hydro: providing residential and commercial customers the option to arrange flexible payment plans.

  • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

  • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support

  • Canada Recovery Hiring Program

  • Government has announced new proposed legislation to extend the CRHP and introduce two new wage and rent subsidies to replace the CEWS and CERS. Details about when and how to apply for the additional CRHP periods and the new wage and rent subsidies will be available in December 2021.

  • BC Increased Employment Incentive: refundable tax credit for all private sector BC employers to encourage the creation of new jobs for BC workers or increased payroll for existing low or medium-income employees

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC: info@ablebc.ca.

Ann Brydle