Province-wide restrictions

Provincial restrictions are in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Some restrictions are made by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) under the Public Health Act and others are made under the Emergency Program Act (EPA). Most orders can be enforced by police and compliance and enforcement officials.
Last updated: April 19, 2021
Do your part to keep B.C. safe
PHO order on gatherings and events
PHO order on restaurants and bars
EPA order on masks in public indoor settings
Enforcement
Do your part to keep B.C. safe
Stronger province-wide restrictions
The PHO has strengthened province-wide restrictions. These restrictions came into effect March 29 at 11:59 pm and last to May 25 at midnight. They include:
The variance allowing indoor religious gatherings and worship services between March 28 and May 13 is suspended
Indoor low intensity group exercise classes are cancelled
Restaurants, pubs and bars are closed for indoor dining. Outdoor patio seating and take-out or delivery is allowed
Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is closed
Workplaces with a COVID-19 exposure may be ordered to close for a minimum of 10 days
Avoid all non-essential travel. Review the current travel advisory.
Safety recommendations
In addition to the orders, the PHO strongly recommends:
Working from home whenever possible, unless it is essential to be in the workplace
Keeping your child home from school if they feel sick or have any sign of illness
Getting testing immediately if you or anyone in your family feels sick
Masks in schools
All K to 12 staff and all students in grades 4 to 12 are required to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas, including:
At their work stations (desks)
On school buses
Within and outside learning groups
PHO order on gatherings and events
This content is a summary of the PHO order – Gatherings and Events (PDF) document. It is not legal advice and does not provide an interpretation of the law. In the event of any conflict or difference between this webpage and the order, the order is correct and legal and must be followed.
Social gatherings, Indoor gatherings
No indoor social gatherings of any size at your residence with anyone other than your household or, if you live alone, your core bubble. For example:
Do not invite friends or extended family inside your residence or vacation accommodation
Do not host a party or event inside your house
Outdoor gatherings
Up to 10 people can gather outdoors. e.g
Up to 10 people can gather at a park or beach
Up to 10 people can gather in the backyard of a residence
Do not gather with several groups of new people. Stick to the same people. Continue to use COVID-19 layers of protection and maintain physical distancing. Patios and outdoor areas at restaurants, pubs and bars are not included as places to gather with 10 people at one table
Outdoor religious gatherings and worship services
Religious worship services may be held outdoors (including in open-sided tents and under overhead coverings). Before, during and after the service, people must not gather or socially engage.
Up to 50 people may attend, plus 2 extra people to make sure rules are followed
Participants must be 2 metres apart unless they live in the same private residence
Drive-in worship events can continue to operate (No more than 50 vehicles may be present, and people who attend in a vehicle must remain in the vehicle)
Musical groups of up to 5 musicians may performThe only people who can sing are soloists and worship leaders. The only people who can chant are worship leaders
Masks are required at all times by everyone in attendance.Masks can only be removed by soloists (when singing), worship leaders (when speaking, singing or chanting), readers (when reading out loud), or musicians who need to do so to play their instrument. They must maintain 3 metres of spacing or use a physical barrier
Masks are not required for people who can’t wear a mask due to a condition or impairment or kids under the age of 12
Organizers must:
Collect information for contract tracing
Supply hand sanitizer
Caution those at risk, including seniors and those with underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems, from
attending.
Source: 2.gov.bc.ca