The B.C. government extended current COVID-19 health orders banning events and social gatherings with people you don’t live with.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says people need to stay the path and follow the restrictions that have been in place since November and due to expire at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, Feb. 6.

“We need to buy time to understand how these variants of concern or whether these variants of concern are going to affect transmission in our community and we need to buy time to get our immunization program back up and running at full speed,” she said.

In announcing the extension, Henry said there were 28 COVID-19 “variants of concern” in the province – 19 of the so-called U.K. variant (B.1.1.7) and 9 of the South African variant (B.1.351). Also of concern is the Brazil variant of COVID-19 P.1 though there have been no cases linked to that variant in British Columbia.

The extended orders also come at a time when B.C. and the rest of Canada is facing issues with the supply of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna. So far, there been been 149,564 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine administered in the province, 10,366 of which are second doses.

She noted there have been 205 reports (0.14 per cent) of adverse effects, with 55 of those considered serious reactions such as anaphylaxis. Henry though said not all of the reported effects were caused by the vaccine.

“Just one or two super spreading events or slight increase in our risk contacts with others can quickly counteract all of our progress and work,” added Henry. “Seeing one more friend, having one birthday party with those outside our household is all that that it may take.”

Restrictions may ease later this month: Henry

In announcing the extension, Dr. Henry noted she and her team will will be regularly reviewing the modelling data to determine when it is safe to loosen some restrictions.

She did hint that an easing of the restrictions may come at end of this month depending on how case counts, outbreaks, and variant cases pan out in the weeks ahead.

“As we look towards the end of this month, these data will tell us if more action is required or if we can start to ease the restrictions we have in place,” Henry said. “And as long as continue on this path, we can start planning for the return of activities at the end of this month.”

“If we start seeing one of these variants take off, all bets are off.”

While there has been a steady decline in the overall number of cases across B.C., Henry says two areas of concern continue to be with social gatherings which tend to involve younger people and workplaces largely comprising of older employees.

New modelling data presented this morning shows that an increase in infectious contacts to even 60 per cent of normal could result in explosive growth in cases as many as 1,000 per day by mid-March. B.C. today reported 471 new cases of the virus and six more deaths.

Henry said B.C. residents are currently at around 40 to 50 per cent of normal contact.

“Even if we slip a little bit, the potential for transmission goes up, and this is what is concerning for us right now,” she added.

What does it mean?

B.C.’s orders mean people cannot gather with those outside who live outside of their household, with the exception being single adults who live alone. They can gather with one to two other people to form their own bubble.

All events – including musical or theatre performances, galas, silent auctions etc. – remain suspended, though there is an exception of drive-in and drop-off events.

Funerals, weddings, and baptisms can still be held with a maximum of 10 people, though receptions remain off-limits. Things like city council or alcoholic anonymous meetings can still be held as long as COVID-19 guidelines are in place.

In-person religious gatherings and worship services remain suspended.

Fitness centres, studios, gyms, and exercise facilities are allowed to operate with safety guidelines in place though a ban remains on high-intensity activities.

Meanwhile, indoor and outdoor team sports for people 22 years of age and older continue to remain suspended. For people 21 and younger, organized indoor and outdoor sports must follow viaSport’s Return to Sport Phase 2 guidance.

Travel for games or training is also off-limits unless an athlete’s home club is outside of their immediate community.

For a full list of the restrictions in British Columbia, go here.