In a press conference Thursday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that liquor sales provincewide must cease at 8 p.m. on March 17th.
The ban on alcohol transactions will be lifted at 9 a.m. the following day, on March 18th.
Bars will also seize alcohol sales at 8 p.m. The order is similar to the one she made on New Year’s Eve.
St. Patrick’s Day and Spring Break, for most schools, falls on the same week.
“Right now we need to save those parties for the summer,” said Henry.
Dr. Henry said the amendment is necessary to keep case numbers low.
The March 11th press conference, marked one year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.
During the same press conference, Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced the easing of restrictions to allow groups of up to ten to safely gather outside.
“This means your children can have a playdate with their friends… their safe group of friends, over the March break,” said Henry.
“You can meet friends outside, for a coffee, a chat, a connection, a picnic in the park.”
Henry urged people to still use safety when meeting with their safe group, including wearing a mask or maintaining some distance.
There are no changes to the current restrictions on indoor gatherings – in our homes or elsewhere. The requirements for restaurants and bars also continue.
On Thursday, 569 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed across B.C., and three more deaths were reported.
