Whether it’s planned small gatherings, Halloween parties or the upcoming Diwali festival, residents must reconsider and take precautions and protect themselves.
That’s what Fraser Health is urging, telling the Optimist now is the time everyone must be vigilant and abide by the guidelines as the cases of COVID-19 surge.
An FHA spokesperson noted the majority of the new cases are linked to known cases and clusters, and many of the community-related clusters and outbreaks are connected to private gatherings. Transmission from these events can spread to workplaces, schools and high-risk settings such as health care facilities, says Fraser Health.
However, health officials still won’t confirm cases connected to specific house parties and social gatherings.
Mayor George Harvie last month expressed outrage after getting an update from Delta police about a wedding party in North Delta.
He said the Sept. 11 gathering involved three side-by-side homes with more than 150 people in attendance, where fences were removed, prompting calls to police and the city’s bylaws department.
Citing privacy reasons, Fraser Health would not confirm whether any COVID-19 cases were connected to that wedding party, which reportedly has professional photos from the event circulating on the Internet.
The FHA spokesperson explained that every time there is a positive test in B.C., Public Health connects with anyone who may have come into contact with the case so they are aware and can be monitored for symptoms.
Fraser Health does not provide personal details and do not identify the specific location of confirmed cases unless public health providers cannot be certain they have reached all those who need to be contacted, and who therefore might be a risk to the public.
The FHA, though, states that even small gatherings can be risky right now.
“At this crucial time we are asking people who reside in the Fraser Health region to take a pause and reconsider our social interactions outside of our households. Ensure your safe six are always the same six. As much as possible, socialize with people outside of your home such as public outdoor spaces like parks or licensed COVID safe businesses,” the region warns.
“If you need to bring someone into your home, please ensure that they are part of your safe six, the same six - and that you are able to visit in a COVID safe way. For parties, events, marking milestones and celebrations please have them at licensed businesses and restaurants. No parties in your private residence. This is especially important right now with Halloween and the Diwali festival coming up in the next two weeks. This will help break the transmissions and outbreaks we are seeing from social events and parties in private residences.”
The region adds, “We know people have made many sacrifices already, we know people have COVID fatigue, and we know this has been hard for many of our loved ones. That’s why we are urging everyone to join us to bend the curve once again. We need to keep our loved ones safe, our businesses open, and our kids in school. An important reminder that being COVID-19 safe is also practicing good hand hygiene, physically distancing, wearing a mask in public places, getting tested if you have any symptoms and isolating from others when you’re unwell. Together, we can do this again.”
This message was echoed Thursday by provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Victoria Lee, the CEO of Fraser Health.
They reiterated at a press conference in Surrey that many of the new cases are directly linked to gatherings, in homes and elsewhere, that are now resulting in community transmission of COVID-19 in communities across the province.
The surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly in the Fraser Health region, has prompted the province to enact a new order further limiting the number of people at social gatherings, something the City of Delta had called on the province to do several weeks ago.
Henry this week said a new limit will be imposed whereby household parties will be limited to immediate families plus a so-called “safe six” in order to help reduce the spread.
Harvie at Delta council this week said the health order will be enforceable by bylaw officers, police officers and environmental health officers.
He noted he recently spoke with Lee about enforcement issues.
“We talked about the bylaws and I said our bylaw officers will be there to supplement our police officers, but the only thing I asked is that the enforceable order must be very clear in order that our officers can take action,” he said.
