B.C.’s top doctor is hoping people keep up with public health measures to prevent a huge spike in COVID-19 cases across the province.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says she is hoping to have to avoid forcing businesses to close up shop once again.

“I don’t believe its good to shut things down because it just drives things underground,” she said. “Its much better for us to work with industry, to work with residents to work with people and say ‘how can we do this in the best possible way, and the safest possible way right now?'”

Henry adds some restaurants owners have raised concerns about groups of 20 wanting to sit together, noting its important that people follow the rules so these businesses are allowed to keep operating.

“There’s reasons why we have these smaller numbers right now. The last thing we want is to have transmission going on in places like restaurants and bars,” Henry said. “We need to keep those businesses going. We need to give outlets for people to go out there.”

As of yesterday, there have been 27 people with COVID-19 linked to exposure events in downtown Kelowna. It includes 18 people in the Interior, and nine others in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities.

Health Minister Adrian Dix too raised his concerns during a briefing this week.

“The maximum of 50 people is for gatherings but in private parties, in dinner parties, in house parties, and in apartment parties, we have to show common sense and understanding,” he said. “And I think that’s a critical thing whether its in a hotel resort or whether its in our homes.”

Across the province, there have been 3,170 cases of the virus, with 223 of those cases across the Interior Health Authority. Twenty-two of the cases across the IHA have been reported since July 9.

There are currently 23 active cases of the virus in the Interior, part of 192 cases across British Columbia.