B.C. health officials are reintroducing COVID-19 restrictions in the Central Okanagan because of an spike in COVID-19 cases.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry says the Delta variant is driving the rapid transmission of the virus in people who have not yet been vaccinated as well as in people who have only had one dose of a vaccine.

“We are experiencing a surge in cases right now, particularly in younger people between the ages of 20 and 40,” Henry said, during a press conference yesterday. “And 95 per cent of people across the province who are infected right now are unimmunized or people who have not yet had their second dose.”

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared in the Central Okanagan – which includes Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, and Peachland and other nearby communities – back on July 28. During the week of  July 25 and July 31, there were 450 new COVID-19 cases in the Central Okanagan.

Effective immediately, people at restaurants will be limited to groups of six or fewer, and liquor service will be suspended at 10 p.m., as was the case earlier this year. Nightclubs and bars will also have to be closed unless they serve food.

Vacation rentals and houseboats will be limited to the occupants, plus five visitors.

Starting Monday, indoor personal gatherings in the Kelowna-area will be capped at five people or one other household, while indoor and outdoor events will be capped at 50 people, with a COVID-19 safety plan.

A mask mandate imposed last week to slow the spread of the virus remains in effect.

“This is not where we wanted to be,” Henry said Friday, noting the restrictions apply to people who have been fully vaccinated as well.

She says people who intend to travel to the central Okanagan should cancel or reschedule their plans – and avoid the area entirely if they’re not vaccinated. The hope is that these new measures will allow health officials to contain the spike in cases.

“For events planned this weekend, we know that we can’t change those immediately. What we need you to do is ensure you have safety plans in place,” Henry added.

“Right now, when we’re seeing a lot of transmission of a highly transmissible virus, we have to take measures to protect everyone.”

“As much as possible, unimmunized people should not attend these events, whether it’s a wedding or a birthday party or a formal organized event. People should wear masks, they should stay seated and follow physical distancing rules.”

Henry is also reminding hosts to keep an accurate guest list for contact tracing purposes.

Officials say the COVID outbreak in the Central Okanagan has tripled from around 300 cases to roughly 1,200 since last week, with the highly transmissible delta variant  responsible for about 80 per cent of cases.

“We know that now there has been transmission from people who have travelled to the Central Okanagan and moved back to different areas of the province,” said Henry.

“That puts stress on our health-care system across both the Central Okanagan and all of the Interior as we know Kelowna General [Hospital], for example, supports all of the Interior Health regions.”

The province today reported 464 new COVID-19 cases, 275 of which were in Interior Health. Active COVID cases in B.C. are at 2,411 people, with 1,356 of those in Interior Health.