COVID-19 Protocols

Northern Health is introducing new public health orders covering the entire Northern Health region to manage COVID-19 activity. 
 
Effective at 12:01 AM Tuesday September 7, 2021: 
 
New Northern Health orders:

• Personal gatherings in your home – one additional family or 5 guests
• Personal gatherings outside your home – maximum 50 people
• Indoor events – have a safety plan (the organizer should have a safety plan, but is not required to submit one for approval)
• Outside events – when more than 200 people, then have a safety plan
• Sporting events with spectators, indoor & outdoor – have a safety plan 


 
Currently in Step 3 of BC restart plan and still in place: 
 
In the Restart step 3 and current PHO order on gatherings and events:

• Indoor events – maximum of 50 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater
• Outside events – maximum of 5000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater
• Outdoor spectator events: 5000 people or 50% capacity
• Indoor spectator event: 50 people or 50% capacity  


Not restricted by either NH order or restart step 3/PHO order:

• All indoor fitness classes allowed, normal capacity
• Gyms and recreation facilities, normal capacity
• Restaurants, bars, pubs and nightclubs (except for socialization between tables or dancing)
• Worship services or educational activities (K to 12 and post-secondary) 


 
These measures will remain in place until Northern Health experiences lower cases and higher vaccination rates. 
 
For more information on how to get a vaccine in your community, visit: northernhealth.ca/health-topics/covid-19-vaccine-plan 
https://stories.northernhealth.ca/…/new-health-measures…

Masks are required in all public indoor settings for all people born in 2009 or earlier (12+) (as of August 25).  
 
This includes:

• Malls, shopping centres 
• Grocery and liquor stores 
• Airports
• Coffee shops
• On public transportation, in a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle
• Libraries
• Clothing and retail stores 
• Areas of office buildings where services to the public are provided 
• Common areas of sport and fitness centres when not engaged in physical activity
• Common areas of post-secondary institutions and non-profit organizations 
• Inside schools for all K to 12 staff, visitors and students in grades 4 to 12
• Drug stores 
• Community centres 
• Recreation centres
• City Halls
• Restaurants, pubs and bars when not seated at a table 


 
There are exemptions for:

• People with health conditions or with physical, cognitive or mental impairments who cannot wear one
• People who cannot remove a mask on their own
• Children under the age of 12

People who need to remove their masks to communicate due to another person’s hearing impairment 

 
A face shield is not a substitute for a mask as it has an opening below the mouth. 
 
Note: The order will be reassessed when proof of vaccination and B.C.’s vaccine card are fully implemented. 

 
There are pop-up vaccination clinics on Haida Gwaii. For information on dates and booking go to <https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/covid-19-immunization-clinics> and check out local notices. 

By order of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), proof of vaccination is required to access some events, services and businesses. You must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. By October 24, you must be fully vaccinated. The requirement is in place until January 31, 2022 and could be extended. 
 
The requirement applies to all people born in 2009 or earlier (12+) and covers:

• Indoor ticketed sporting events with more than 50 people
• Indoor concerts, theatre, dance and symphony events with more than 50 people 
• Licensed restaurants and cafes and restaurants and cafes that offer table service (indoor and patio dining), including liquor tasting rooms in wineries, breweries or distilleries
• Pubs, bars and lounges (indoor and patio dining)
• Nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres
• Gyms, exercise/dance facilities/studios and these activities happening in recreation facilities
• Businesses offering indoor exercise/fitness
• Indoor adult group and team sports for people 22 years old or older
• Indoor organized events with 50 or more people. 
• For example: wedding and funeral receptions (outside of a funeral home), organized parties, conferences, trade fairs and workshops
• Indoor organized group recreational classes and activities with more than 50 people like pottery, art and choir
• Post-secondary student housing
• Spectators at indoor youth sporting events with more than 50 people

 
You don’t have to show proof of vaccination at places like:

• Grocery stores, liquor stores and pharmacies
• Unlicensed restaurants that don’t offer table service 
• For example: fast food, coffee shops, food courts, food trucks and takeout
• Tasting rooms without seating attached to wineries, breweries or distilleries
• Local public transportation (BC Transit, TransLink, BC Ferries)
• Salons, hairdressers and barbers
• Hotels, resorts, cabins and campsites
• Unless it is a setting or event covered by the PHO order. For example a licensed hotel restaurant, wedding reception or conference 
• Does not include exercise/fitness facilities in hotels that are for guests
• Swimming pools (unless it’s the location of an event) and skating rinks (unless being used for adult sports)
• Banks and credit unions
• Retail and clothing stores
• Public libraries, museums, art galleries (unless they are the location of an event)
• Food banks and shelters
• Escape rooms, laser tag, indoor paint ball, arcades and bowling alleys (if they are unlicensed or don’t offer food-related table service)
• Post-secondary on-campus cafeterias
• Airport food courts and restaurants
• Health care services, rehabilitation or exercise therapy programs, and drug and alcohol support group meetings
• Social services provided to people in need 


 
You don’t have to show proof of vaccination at events like:

• Worship services
• Indoor youth recreational sport for people 21 years old or younger
• Before and after school programs for K to 12 students
• Student events and activities in K to 12 public and independent schools
• Indoor organized events with less than 50 people, except adult sports 


 
The requirement is in place until January 31, 2022, subject to extension.