B.C. public safety minister set to clamp down on COVID-19 enforcement

VICTORIA — Stronger actions to enforce public health measures are expected to be announced today in British Columbia as the number of active cases of COVID-19 rises.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth is scheduled to give an update about compliance and enforcement measures under the province’s ongoing state of emergency to combat the illness.

Farnworth said on Tuesday he would bring in new measures to address the behaviour of people whose actions “demonstrate their indifference to the health and safety of others.”

At the same time, Premier John Horgan said people in B.C. have sacrificed to keep transmission of the illness low, and unsafe parties and gatherings are eroding that hard work.

He said the provincial government is committed to getting B.C. back on track and will announce enforcement action against people who continue to put others at risk.

780 total cases in B.C.

B.C. reported 80 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of active cases to 780, including 11 people in hospital.

There were two new deaths. That brings the number of people have died in B.C. after contracting the illness to 200.

Deputy provincial health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson said public health workers are monitoring 2,574 people as a result of possible exposure to COVID-19.

She said one of the reasons the number of people in self-isolation would increase is if infected individuals spent time in gatherings.

The majority of the latest cases are still being detected in younger adults, she told a news briefing, but there have been small increases in infections among older people too.