B.C. businesses required to bring back COVID-19 safety plans under new health order
With COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations rising in B.C., the province's top doctor announced businesses will need to bring back their pandemic safety plans under a new health order.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry outlined the order during a morning news conference Friday, saying the individual safety plans worked well for businesses earlier in the pandemic.
"These helped us get through the last number of waves and they will help us get through this one too," Henry said Friday.
"These safety plans are a measure to allow you to keep operating in the face of a significant portion of workers who may be unable to come in because they're ill."
The Health Ministry is working in partnership with WorkSafeBC to ensure businesses bring back their won COVID-19 safety plans and to answer any of the questions.
"As an employer, we know that you have an obligation to do all you can to keep employment environment safe," Henry said. "I know the vast majority of businesses have stepped up without hesitation."
Henry said some of the measures in a business' safety plan could include using Plexiglas barriers again, reducing mingling of staff and encouraging employees to work from home when possible.
Earlier this week, Henry warned business owners to expect as many as a third of their workers could be ill with COVID-19 at one time.
"We need to adapt businesses so we can operate at these reduced numbers," she said.
The new health measure was announced as B.C. is managing a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, largely due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant. As of Thursday, 324 infectious patients were in hospital with the disease and 90 were in intensive care.
Henry said the health order is specific to industries and doesn't apply to child-care facilities, post-secondary institutions or grade schools as they have their own unique measures in place.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prime minister faces mounting pressure to step aside from inside caucus
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will face mounting pressure from his caucus this week to step down from the leadership of the Liberal party.
Bloc won't hold Liberals 'hostage' over seniors' benefits: cabinet minister
Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says the Liberals will not be 'held hostage' by the Bloc Quebecois' demand to expand Old Age Security to more seniors.
Police identify Toronto victim of alleged serial killer
Toronto police have identified the woman who was allegedly killed by a suspected serial killer earlier this month.
Missing father, kids spotted in New Zealand wilderness 3 years after disappearance: police
A New Zealand man who disappeared with his three children in 2021 was spotted on a farm along the country's northwest coast, police say.
No jail time for man who fatally stabbed senior in Vancouver
A man who stabbed a senior to death in Vancouver's Biltmore Hotel building in 2020 has been given a conditional sentence for the killing, meaning he will not serve any jail time if he remains on good behaviour in the community.
B.C. billionaire posts third large sign criticizing NDP ahead of the election
British Columbia billionaire Chip Wilson has put up yet another billboard message to voters, his third post outside his multimillion-dollar mansion in NDP Leader David Eby's own riding.
Great white shark washes up on B.C. shore
In a rare occurrence, a bona fide great white shark washed up on a B.C. beach Thursday.
EXCLUSIVE: 'We were privileged to be friends with our sister': Family mourns murdered N.S. woman
More than a month after the murder of Nova Scotia woman Esther Jones, her family continues to grapple with the loss.
Job growth numbers 'good news' in Canada but there are concerns, according to an economist
An economist says the latest job growth numbers in Canada are 'good news,' but he has concerns following Statistic Canada's report.