The new Health Order one which will include the Prince Rupert area and other communities that previously had been exempt from the expanded Health Measures introduced earlier this fall.
The Bar and nightclub closure are in effect as of tomorrow and will last until January 31st of the new year. As well restaurants, which will remain open, will be required to cut off their liquor sales as of 10PM.
Also seemingly impacted will be worship services across the Northern Health Authority region.
"The Chief Medical Health Officer in the North has reviewed the restrictions that are in place there, and we've been in a transition period as I've mentioned over the last week and a bit to try and ensure that we are having restrictions that are commensurate with the risk in those areas, as well as the strain on the health care system.
And so Northern Health will be revising their orders one: to have an expiry date of January 31st of 2022, the order will cover all of Northern Health Authority.
It will include that bars and nightclubs remain closed. Restaurants must continue to end their liquor service at 10 PM
Given the situation in the north, there is still no In-Person worship services being allowed at this time, although drive in services will be permitted.
Social gatherings at private residences will be for up to 10 people inside, or 25 people outside, if people are fully vaccinated.
Outdoor events with more than 25 people, will have a fifty percent capacity with use of the BC Vaccine card.
And indoor seated events with greater than ten people will have a fifty percent capacity limit and that includes funerals, weddings, sporting events, theatre, arts and performance events
And I know some of these were restricted to a much lower number in the past so theses changes will come into effect starting tomorrow as well with the use of the BC Vaccine Card." -- Doctor Bonnie Henry at today's COVID information session
Some of reasoning behind the decision to expand the health orders to the entire region may be related to a recent surge in COVID reported cases in the Terrace area, which saw a significant jump last week. Though the Prince Rupert region had seen reported cases drop to just one case.
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| The BC CDC COVID case report map from Nov 14-20 |
Northern Health has still not updated their guidance for residents of the north through their website or Social Media pages.
**Update**
Revised Public Health Orders for Northern Health now posted here
More on Provincial and Regional restrictions can be reviewed here.
The announcement was part of todays wider information session, which also noted that British Columbia had seen its first case of the Omicron variant which was first noted late last week as a variant of concern.
Today's update also made note of the ongoing vaccination program, and highlighted the introduction of a vaccine program now in place for children ages 5 to 11.
The full information session can be reviewed below, the areas of note for the Northern Health Region can be found at the fifteen minute mark.
More notes on Health Care in the Northwest can be reviewed here.
The latest themes from the provincial response to COVID are available here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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| Aerial photography of the Fishing Vessel Prestige II which was under observation of DFO members in 2017 and 2018 (From DFO) |
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| As part of the enforcement operation, members of the CCGS Goddard boarded the vessel under investigation |
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| From Remembering.ca |
The highly acclaimed Prince Rupert lawyer passed away on November 16th following a battle with pancreatic cancer, an obituary from the Remembering.ca website providing a fascinating glimpse into his life and times.
Born and raised in Prince Rupert, he went away for schooling at age 13 returning to the community to practice law for over 50 years.
Known not only for his legal work in the community, but for his community spirit, Mr. Silversides had a wide reach across the community.
Serving both as a Housing Society Director with the Muks-Kum-Ol Housing Society and with the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce.
A life-long Liberal, he answered the call of the party a number of times and up to his passing was serving as Acting Party President and involved in the ongoing Leadership contest that will come to an end in February.
The Party paying their tribute on Monday with a Social Media post.
Mr. Silversides service is set for Tuesday, December 7th at the First United Church on Sixth Avenue West in Prince Rupert.
He is survived by his spouse, Rhoda Witherly, her children Michael (Stacy) and Kate (Chris) and grandchildren Sophia, Violet, Natalie, and William. Don is also survived by sister Kathy (Ron) and niece Nicole.
Memorial donations are asked to be made out to the Prince Rupert Salvation Army for their Christmas Appeal
Mayor Lee Brain provided from an official note from the City with a tribute to his Social media page earlier today.
You can pay your respects through the Remembering.ca guestbook, which is already quickly filling up with memories and salutes.
More notes on community themes can be reviewed here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
Residents of the community of Lax Kw'alaams will see a little extra cash to start off the new year, as the Band Council outlines its plans for a one time gift of $500 per member set to be awarded by the Council.
A notice on the Lax Kw'alaams Band Website and Facebook page provides the details of the program which will require members make application once the gift application period opens and the forms are posted to the Lax Kw'alaams website, the link as of yet not posted to that site.
The program has become somewhat of an annual bit of sharing, with the same amount offered up as a gift in 2020.
For more notes on items of interest from Lax Kw'alaams see our archive page here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
It's been the topic of a few Council sessions in the last year or so, just what to do about all that peat and stockpiles of hogfuel on city owned lands.
The issue of accessing that land that consists of muskeg and other factors that have provided challenges for development was part of the City's list of Housing actions for approval in June of this year.
The role that muskeg and such has had in those housing challenges has been a topic raised frequently by City Councillor Wade Niesh, who has often noted of the vast amount of city land that could be available once those elements were removed as an obstacle.
With this latest Request for Expressions of Interest to the BC Bid site, the City of Prince Rupert appears ready to turn an impediment for land development into a resource development option.
The request for Proposal was posted to the BC Bid website on Monday and outlines the city's focus for the potential harvesting of the resources.
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| click to enlarge |
The Peat Moss locations are identified by two maps included in the Bid Package from the City.
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The vaccinations take place in Room 260 of the Ocean Centre, with jabs being offered between 9 AM and 4 PM with the exception of a one hour break from Noon to 1PM.
The vaccination program is by appointment only.
In addition to first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the clinics will also be in operation for those eligible for the third dose booster shot if eligible.
The clinic will be closed from December 20th until January 4th for the holiday period
The where you can get vaccinated page from the Northern Health website has additional information and guidance on the 12+ and 5-11 vaccination programs, which takes place at the Prince Rupert Health Unit 300 Third Avenue West
You can find any updates to the information flow from Northern Health available through their Prince Rupert Facebook page.
To contact the Prince Rupert Health unit call 250-622-6380
More notes on health care in Prince Rupert can be explored from our archive pages.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
