B.C.’s top doctor is urging people to stick to their household bubbles this holiday season as a way to prevent cases from spiking in January.

Dr. Bonnie Henry while a vaccine will protect people from COVID-19, it is not here yet, it will also take time to immunize everyone so things can go back to normal.

“Pick ways of being together that protect people particularly if its an older person,” she said. “You know, we need to take those measures to protect our seniors right now so that they will be here with us when we have Christmas in July.”

With the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine set to be administered as early as tomorrow, Henry noted it’s more important than ever for people to cut back on social gatherings and stick to their household bubbles, or if you live alone to stick to the same one or two people that you’ve been interacting with.

“This virus doesn’t recognize that you’ve been apart for so long and that you really need to see somebody. This virus passes between people,” Henry added. “So we pick up the risk from where we’ve been and we take it to where we go. And if we are around people who are vulnerable, then we’re putting them at risk.”

The province reported 2,146 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend along with 49 more deaths, with 250 of the new cases in Interior Health.

The restrictions on social gatherings in private homes and non-essential travel will be in place until at least Jan. 8, at which point a decision will be made on extending or rescinding some of the requirements.

Pre-Christmas Quarantines not foolproof says Dr. Henry

There have been reports of people beginning a self-imposed family quarantine – including pulling kids out of school – so they can be together with other households over the holidays. Dr. Henry says while people will make their choices, this is not a foolproof method to prevent the virus from spreading.

She notes there is no black-or-white answer to the question as there are always risks associated with social gatherings, even the smallest ones.

“We have seen in other places where people have tried to do this that it is not foolproof and there are challenges,” she said on Monday. “Not everybody understands the same meaning of quarantine and takes the same precautions. And you may be at risk.”

Henry said there are also concerns of a surge in COVID-19 cases next month as many people are looking forward to spending time with family and friends. Cases spiked after Thanksgiving gatherings and again after Halloween parties in the fall. Over the summer, there were also concerns about gatherings over the Canada Day long weekend.

“If you want to be elderly parents and grand parents, particularly if someone is alone, then make sure you keep your distances. Wear masks when you’re close together. Take some extra precautions to keep them safe, particularly right now,” she said. “We want to do everything we can to protect people who are most at risk.”

“I know for some people that desire to be physically together is very important, but I want to reiterate, now is dangerous. This is the hardest period that we’re going to be going through, but we can get through this. We’ve seen that for last 11 months and now’s not the time to let that go.”

Henry again asked people to consider holding their celebrations virtually as gatherings in homes don’t have the same level of protections like grocery or retail stores.

She went on to say that she’s heard of a number of creative workarounds for this holidays – including people dropping off cookies at doorways, family dinners on big screen TVs via Zoom, and post-meal virtual karaoke competitions.

“Yes, its very challenging to be on your own during this pandemic because its very isolating and we know that,” she said. “So yes, people need to find what they need to do for themselves. It is important that we find the joy everyday.”

“There will be a time where we will able to take our masks off, where we can see and hug our loved ones and friends, But we are not yet there.”