Photo courtesy Canadian Press

By CKPG Today

New measures

Victoria announces new measures to enforce COVID-19 public safety

Aug 21, 2020 | 11:06 AM

VICTORIA — The provincial government has given police and other provincial enforcement offices the ability to issue $2000 violation tickets for owners or organizers contravening the provincial health officer’s (PHO) order on gatherings and events.

They will also be able to issue $200 violation tickets to people not following the direction of police or enforcement staff at events or who refuse to comply with requests to follow PHO orders or safe operating procedures, or respond with abusive behaviour.

The new measures go into effect immediately and are enacted under the provincial state of emergency.

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“These orders will help us put a stop to the selfish acts of a small minority of British Columbians, who are threatening to erode the progress our province has made in controlling COVID-19,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“While I’m disappointed these measures are now necessary, I am taking this action to give police agencies and provincial enforcement officers the ability to take action against those who are putting people’s lives at risk.”

The Province is enlisting compliance and enforcement staff from provincial ministries to support enforcement and help issue tickets for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes liquor, cannabis and gaming inspectors, community safety unit inspectors and conservation officers.

The provincial government says the enforcement focus will be on $2000 fines to owners, operators and organizers for contraventions of the PHO’s order on gatherings and events. This includes hosting a private party or public event in excess of 50 people, failing to provide appropriate hand sanitation and washroom facilities, failing to provide sufficient space in the venue for physical distancing, failing to obtain a list of names and contacts at large events or having more than five guests gathering in a vacation accommodation.

These actions come into effect at a time B.C. is seeing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the province. On Thursday for example there were 80 new cases of the virus and there are 780 active cases in B.C.