Changes to Regional Restrictions | New Testing Requirements at Canadian Airports
PROVINCIAL UPDATE | CHANGES TO RESTRICTIONS

Changes to health restrictions in both the Northern and Interior Health Regions, were announced this afternoon by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry in the wake of shifting COVID-19 transmission and case rates.

INTERIOR HEALTH UPDATE:
  • Region-specific orders for the Interior Health region will be LIFTED tonight and the region will be subject to the same rules as the rest of the province.
  • Mask mandates, and Public Health Orders that impact the rest of the province will continue to apply to the region.

NORTHERN HEALTH REGION UPDATE:
  • In the Northern Health region, restrictions will be EXTENDED and remain in place from tomorrow until Jan. 31, 2022 include:
  • restaurant alcohol sales stop at 10pm
  • bars and nightclubs remain closed
  • social gatherings at private residences capped at 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, if fully vaccinated
  • outdoor events with more than 25 people limited at 50% capacity, with use of BC Vaccine Card
  • indoor events with more than 10 people limited to 50% capacity
  • in-person religious worship services not allowed
  • the new restrictions apply to local health areas west of Kitwanga that had previously been excluded

FRASER EAST HEALTH REGION UPDATE:
FEDERAL UPDATE | CHANGES TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

ADDITIONAL TESTING REQUIREMENTS AT CANADIAN AIRPORTS

Concerns about the Omicron variant prompted new testing requirements for air travellers entering Canada from a country other than the United States.

  • In the coming days, all fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air from departure points other than the United States will be subject to arrival testing. Fully vaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine while they await the results of their arrival test.
  • Unvaccinated travellers, with right of entry to Canada, will continue to be tested on arrival and day 8 and quarantine for 14 days. However, those arriving by air will now be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility or other suitable location while they await the result of their on arrival test.

ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES ADDED TO TRAVEL BAN:

The Government of Canada is expanding the list of countries with entry prohibitions originally announced on November 26, 2021, to include Egypt, Nigeria and Malawi. Effective tomorrow, foreign nationals who have been in any of these countries within the previous 14 days will not be permitted entry into Canada:
  • Botswana
  • Egypt;
  • Eswatini;
  • Lesotho;
  • Malawi;
  • Mozambique;
  • Namibia;
  • Nigeria;
  • South Africa; and
  • Zimbabwe.
FOLLOW BCHA ON SOCIAL FOR REAL-TIME UPDATES & NEWS