Both the Canadian Government and the BC Government announced reduced business and travel restrictions today.
“The Surrey Board of Trade recognizes that the pandemic restrictions have been difficult for all businesses,” said Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade. “We need to adopt a more sustainable approach to dealing with the COVID-19 virus without shutting down the economy, but at the same time making decisions that are based on science.”
“The Surrey Board of Trade extends our gratitude to our front line workers and to all of the people of BC for doing the hard work we were all asked to do these past two years to get us to this point.”
BC NEWS
Foundational pieces that will be staying in place, all to be reviewed again by March 15 prior to Spring Break and again April 12, Easter weekend:
· Mask mandate for indoor public spaces.
· BC Vaccine Card use.
· COVID safety plans for businesses.
· Restrictions on long term care visitations, K-12 and childcare guidelines, faith community guidelines, child and overnight camps restrictions, and industrial camp orders.
Summary review of restriction announcements today, to take effect on February 16 at 11:59pm.
· All restrictions for indoor personal gatherings are removed.
· Restrictions for indoor and outdoor organized gatherings (wedding receptions, parties, celebrations of life, etc.) are removed.
· Full capacity venues will still need to incorporate masks and vaccine cards as part of their event plan.
· Capacity restrictions for indoor seated events (movies, theatres, sporting events) are removed but masks and vaccine cards are still required.
· Fitness centres, dance studios, and swimming can go back to full capacity.
· Tournaments for adults allowed at full capacity.
· Restaurants, bars and nightclubs can open at full capacity.
· Table seating capacity is removed and mingling and dancing is now allowed.
· Casinos can open at full capacity.
· Work from home: enable people to work from home, but the message now is to start going back into workplaces. Scenarios will be different for each business and their risk tolerance.
· The vaccine card is being re-evaluated.
CANADIAN NEWS
Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced travel restrictions will be eased for vaccinated travellers and youth under the age of 12 starting on February 28.
1. Canada is lifting the advisory against international travel for non-essential purposes.
2. Federal government will move to random border testing starting on February 28.
3. Restrictions lifted for kids under 12 when travelling internationally with fully vaccinated adults. They are no longer required to wait 14 days before returning to school, daycare, etc.
3. Travellers coming into Canada can now use a rapid test to enter the country. The test must be done no more than 24 hours before the trip and cannot be self-administered.
4. The Federal Government says people should still ‘exercise caution’ before travelling abroad.
5. There are no testing exceptions for those who make short trips in and out of Canada. This is something that could be coming in the next few weeks.
6. Unvaccinated travellers will be required to be tested and quarantined for 14 days.
7. More news coming for the cruise ship industry this Spring.
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