BC extends State of Emergency as part of ongoing COVID-19 response

In what has become an automatic renewal announcement, usually made every two weeks, the Province of British Columbia has once again extended the current State of Emergency, this time until January 19th.

The announcement came following the Tuesday afternoon COVID-19 statement from Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, which noted that to date there have been 54, 568 cases of COVID reported in the province.

As the extension was announced Premier Horgan noted the arrival of vaccines in the province and how British Columbians must continue to follow the measures in place.

The extension of the State of Emergency was based on recommendations from the province's Health and Emergency Management officials.

“Most British Columbians are following public health orders, and that’s what will help us get case numbers back down. Having said that, we’re continuing to use enforcement and fines for those who insist on putting lives at risk by ignoring orders. We continue to strengthen the tools officials need to keep people safe, and we won’t hesitate to use them.” -- Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

As part of the Tuesday extension, the Province provided an update the provincial enforcement work to date when it comes ensuring compliance with British Columbia's Public Health Orders.

Between Aug. 21, 2020, and Jan. 1, 2021, 574 violation tickets were issued, including 103 $2,300 tickets to owners or organizers contravening the PHO’s order on gatherings and events, 21 $2,300 violation tickets for contravention of the PHO Food and Liquor Serving Premises Order and 450 $230 tickets issued to individuals who refused to comply with direction from law enforcement. 

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General is continually working to align EPA enforcement orders with those of the restrictions enacted by the provincial health officer. 

Additionally, since the pandemic began, police agencies in British Columbia have issued 77 violation tickets to individuals who were in contravention of the federal Quarantine Act, totalling $84,266.25. The purpose of the Quarantine Act is to protect public health by taking comprehensive measures to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases.

The full statement from the Province can be reviewed here.

With the extension, British Columbia is now just two months away from having been under a State of Emergency for a full year, the original declaration was made on March 18th, 2020.

More notes on British Columbia government themes can be found from our Legislature archive page here.

To keep up to date on the Provincial work towards COVID see our archive here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.