The majority of new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours have been linked to the Fraser Health region, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said at a press conference Thursday (Oct. 22).
She said 203 of the 274 new cases are linked to the region, largely as a result of social gatherings.
鈥淲eddings, funerals and other life events need to be small, as small as possible,鈥� Henry said, noting the gatherings should be limited to one household only, and at max a pandemic bubble of six or fewer.
鈥淭he risk is too high for all of us.鈥�
She said that cases from social gatherings were 鈥渟pilling over鈥� and infecting people not connected to the event.
鈥淪ocial gatherings, especially recently weddings and other celebrations, are proving to be high risk for all of us,鈥� Henry said.
鈥淭hese events have caused clusters and outbreaks that have now spilled over to our health-care system.鈥�
However, Henry stopped short of issuing any new public health orders related to gatherings. She did appeal to people hosting weddings or other events in recent weeks to keep events small, and not push the limit to the 50 person gathering max.
鈥淚 ask you to not invite others to your gathering right now,鈥� Henry said, and to not get offended if friends and family decline invitations.
Gatherings should be household-only, she said, or at max a six-person pandemic bubble.
鈥淭he risk is too high for all of us.鈥�
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