Mask mandate, tighter restrictions return to entire Interior Health region due to accelerated COVID-19 spread

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health is going backward in its public health restrictions after the re-accelerated spread of COVID-19.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has announced masks are now mandatory once again in public places throughout Interior Health, household gatherings are restricted to five people and public gatherings are down to no more than 50.

Indoor and outdoor gatherings will need to have a COVID safety plan in place. High-intensity fitness classes are suspended and indoor, lower-intensity classes are limited to no more than ten.

The restrictions are effective at midnight.

Many of these restrictions had already resumed in the Central Okanagan a few weeks ago, but now apply to the entire region. Henry says there has been a levelling off of spread in the Central Okanagan since the restrictions were re-introduced, but spread has increased in many other parts of IH.

The Delta variant of COVID-19 has continued its pattern of greater spread — primarily among those who are not vaccinated against the virus.

“The overall IH numbers are staying a bit high because of the increase of case numbers that are occurring — transmission that is occurring — in East Kootenay, Kootenay-Boundary, North and South Okanagan, and in Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap,” noted IH Medical Health Officer Dr. Rob Parker.

Efforts to address lower-than-average immunization rates, according to Henry have been hampered by the wildfire situation.

“Where our challenges have been in the Interior… has been trying to get people immunized at the same time as they’re dealing with potential evacuations and evacuation alerts,” she said.

Health officials repeated their pleas that those who have are not fully immunized take the opportunity to get their vaccinations.

“As we boost our immunization rates across the Interior, we know that it is those pockets of lower immunization — particularly in people who have not yet received their first dose — that allows this virus, and the variant we’re seeing, the Delta variant which is that much more transmissable, to spread so much more easily,” Henry said.

She added the provincial plan to move to Step 4 in its loosening of restrictions likely will not be on track to happen at its earliest proposed date, September 7.