VANCOUVER -- B.C. officials opted Tuesday to extend the province's state of emergency prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is the 12th extension from the provincial government.
States of emergency allow B.C.'s minister of public safety and solicitor general to use "extraordinary powers" to support the pandemic response, as outlined under the Emergency Program Act.
The declaration is in effect for at least another two weeks, and will be up for renewal again the first week of September.
In a statement, the premier said the state of emergency was extended to keep the province on the right track.
"The vast majority of British Columbians are following Dr. Henry's orders of seeing fewer faces in bigger spaces, but we all have to remain committed to flattening the curve," John Horgan said.
He reiterated a message first put forward by Health Minister Adrian Dix Monday that further enforcement action is on the way for those putting others at risk.
"British Columbians have sacrificed a lot to keep transmission rates down, and now unsafe parties and gatherings are eroding that hard work," Horgan said.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the health orders issued in B.C. are not optional, and must be followed to ensure the public stays safe.
Prior to novel coronavirus, B.C.'s longest provincial state of emergency was in 2017, when it was in place for 10 weeks, or five renewal periods, during the wildfire season.
