Messaging Guidance: New health measures to contain COVID-19 outbreak in central Okanagan

New health measures to contain COVID-19 outbreak in central Okanagan

For the communities of Peachland, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Kelowna, and Lake Country.

 As of July 28, 2021, BC’s Interior Health (IH) has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in the central Okanagan due to significant increases in COVID-19 transmission, and is announcing measures to contain the outbreak:

• Effective July 29, at 12:01 am masks are mandatory, by Order, for all public indoor spaces in the central Okanagan communities of Peachland, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Kelowna and Lake Country. The order applies to individuals older than 12 years of age.
• Visitors from outside the Central Okanagan are discouraged from non-essential travel to the area for the duration of the outbreak unless they are fully vaccinated (7 days after their second dose).
• IHA is recommending more caution in the central Okanagan:
  • Organise events outdoors, rather than indoors, where possible
  • Maintain physical distancing, hand cleaning, and staying home if sick
  • Continue a maximum capacity for indoor gathering at 50 people, or up to 50% of the venue’s capacity
  • All events in the central Okanagan must have a COVID-19 safety plan in place. WorkSafeBC can provide guidance.

 Suggested messaging to visitors:

 As of July 29, until further notice, Interior Health is discouraging non-essential travel to the Central Okanagan, including Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, and Peachland, unless you are fully vaccinated (7 days after your second dose). A regional mandatory mask order is currently in place for all public indoor spaces in the area.

• The health and safety of BC residents and visitors is our collective priority. Additional regional orders have been put in place by Interior Health to help reduce COVID-19 transmission, and we ask visitors and residents to follow these guidelines to keep these communities and each other safe.
• Local businesses are doing their part to support the ongoing public health response. Local businesses have public health and safety plans in place and will continue to refine them as needed, to keep visitors and employees safe.
• We ask visitors to travel safely and responsibly, and abide by all of BC’s health and safety guidelines. Know Before You Go and call ahead to get information to make informed travel decisions.
• Vaccination clinics continue across BC, and Interior Health is increasing their efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccination available.

For more information on these measures, immunization clinics, and COVID-19 resources, please read the Official Release from Interior Health: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/AboutUs/MediaCentre/NewsReleases/Documents/New%20health%20measures%20to%20contain%20COVID-19%20outbreak%20in%20Central%20Okanagan.pdf