Catholic Vancouver November 06, 2020
New B.C. COVID-19 rules limit funerals, weddings to household members
By B.C. Catholic Staff
B.C. health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix called a rare Saturday news conference to announce temporary restrictions on social gatherings in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions.
Among the restrictions are new limits on funerals and weddings, which may only take place with immediate household members. Receptions, at home or in a public facility, are not permitted.
Henry clarified that current restrictions on church worship are not changed by the orders. “Those are not social gatherings,” she said, noting the existing 50-person limit and other restrictions remain in place.
Archdiocese of Vancouver Senior Director of Communications Makani Marquis said the new restrictions don’t affect the regular celebration of Mass, and parish Mass schedules continue as usual.
Henry took the opportunity to “send my thanks and gratitude to the many, many faith leaders around this province who have been supporting their communities and their congregants” in worshiping safely.
“I know it has been hard for many people not to come tighter and worship together or have their ceremonies together . . . but we cannot do that yet . . . we will be able to come together again but its not that time yet.
The temporary restrictions announced Saturday focus on four areas: social gatherings, travel, indoor group physical activities and exercise, and workplace safety.
The orders restrict social interactions of any size outside of immediate households, effective 10 p.m. tonight through Nov. 23.
Henry is also recommending that travel in and out of the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions be limited to essential travel.
In addition, businesses and recreation centres have been ordered to cancel indoor group physical activities, while all businesses and worksites in the two regions will be required to review and adhere to their COVID-19 safety plans.
Henry announced the restrictions after B.C. reported 589 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, up from 425 Thursday and 334 Wednesday. The province also reported two new deaths on Friday, bringing the total to 275.
Henry’s press conference can be viewed here.