New Restrictions for Fraser East
September 29, 2021New restrictions for Fraser East region have been ordered as of Tuesday, Sep 28, to combat rising COVID-19 case counts and increased hospitalizations in the region. This region includes Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Hope, Mission and Agassiz/Harrison.
A few of the important notes from the regional health order…
- The order limits indoor private gatherings to five additional people per household or 10 people for outdoor gatherings, unless everyone is fully vaccinated.
- Weddings and conferences are also limited to 10 people inside and 50 outside, unless all participants have received two doses of vaccine.
- Anywhere requiring the BC Vaccine Card for entry now requires proof of full vaccination in this region, from yesterday until further notice. Partial vaccination is no longer accepted for entry.
- Masks are required in all indoor workplaces, unless people are working behind a barrier or in a room by themselves.
As our school has kept its COVID-19 Safety Protocols in place, we have no changes to make to our current procedures, except to confirm that everyone 12+ visiting the school, and everyone 22+ taking classes must now be fully vaccinated. Partial vaccination is no longer sufficient.
BC Vaccine Card Update
Only fully vaccinated people in Fraser East who can provide proof with a B.C. Vaccination Card are able to attend ticketed events or participate in indoor adult sports, including gyms. The rest of the province only needs to be partially vaccinated to attend similar events until Oct. 24.
Dr. Henry says hospital capacity in the area is being tested as surgeries are cancelled, stating “We need to take action now to increase vaccination rates and to reduce the transmission rates in those high-risk settings in our communities,”.
Vaccination rates vary in Fraser East. According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, 75 per cent of all eligible people in Abbotsford are fully vaccinated, while just 66 per cent have received both shots in Hope.
Across BC, 81% of those eligible have been fully vaccinated, and 89% having had a single dose now (as of Sep 29, 2021 https://covid19tracker.ca/provincevac.html?p=BC).
“Rural vaccination rates in Fraser East are significantly below those in the other two health service delivery areas in Fraser Health,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix, referring to Fraser North and Fraser South.
For more information, please see the Fraser Health regional order….