British Columbia’s top doctor has unveiled the first region-specific public health order as the province grapples with surging COVID-19 numbers.
The order goes into effect at 10 p.m. Saturday, and will remain in place for two weeks.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Saturday that Lower Mainland residents are banned from visiting each others’ private homes for two weeks.
The order applies to social gatherings of “any size” with people other than one’s immediate houshold, regardless of whether its fewer than 50 people or physical distancing is observed.
The order also calls for a freeze on non-essential travel out of the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions.
And it bans travel for sport into or out of the region.
Indoor group physical activities such as spin classes, yoga and group fitness are also banned until they have updated COVID-19 safety plans approved by their regional medical health officer.
Indoor sports where physical distancing cannot be maintained are also suspended.
It came as she announced another 567 new cases of the virus, the second highest the province has ever recorded in a single day. The record, 589 cases, was set just Friday.
Virtually all of the new cases were in the Fraser Health region (411) and the Vancouver Coastal Health region (122).
Active cases and the number of people isolating repeatedly hit all-time highs this week.
Health officials have linked the surge primarily to indoor social gatherings.