New public health measures will take effect on Wednesday, Dec. 22–11:59 pm on January 18, 2022. These include:
- no organized indoor social events and gatherings of any size;
- concerts, sports games and theatres reduced to 50% seated capacity, regardless of venue size;
- closing gyms, fitness centres and dance studios;
- closing bars and nightclubs; and
- limiting table sizes at restaurants, cafes and pubs to a maximum of six people per table with physical distancing or barriers.
These restrictions are in addition to the revised orders that took effect on Monday, Dec. 20:
- Limiting indoor, personal gatherings, including in rental and vacation properties to the household/residents plus 10 individuals, or one additional household maximum if all are aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated
- Requiring the BC Vaccine Card for organized events of all sizes and ensuring the QR code is scanned at events
- Seating requirements and restricting movement between tables at food and liquor-serving premises, and reinforcing the need to wear masks when not seated
- Limiting venues of 1,000 individuals or more to 50% of the seated capacity with reinforced masking requirements and scanning of the BC Vaccine Card QR code
- Pausing all sports tournaments while the order is in effect
- All New Year’s Eve organized gatherings and events will be restricted to being seated-only events, with no mingling or dancing allowed.
UPDATE: As parts of British Columbia have been impacted by heavy rain and flooding, there are highway closures and travel restrictions in place for impacted areas to ensure the movement of essential goods and services.
- Under the Emergency Program Act, an order restricting non-essential travel along severely damaged highways is in place for certain routes. Please check Drive BC for an up-to-date list of the latest restrictions and advisories.
- Among the highways that will remain closed to non-essential travel through the holidays is the Coquihalla Highway. In response, many airlines have added extra or new routes, and are working hard to help people move around British Columbia. The essential travel order for the Coquihalla will include intercity bus services, which are currently permitted for non-essential travel along Highway 3 between Hope and the Interior. Options for bus transportation from the Lower Mainland to Kelowna and Kamloops include companies like Ebus, Rider Express and Mountain Man Mike Bus Service.
- Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton is currently open for recreational travel, though extreme caution is advised as this is a mountainous route with steep grades and winding curves, and weather and road conditions can change quickly.
- Further details on travel restrictions can be found here.
- NEW: Incoming air travellers from all countries except the United States will be required to take COVID-19 tests when they arrive in Canada (at the airport where they land). There is no cost to the traveller for these tests.
- For those arriving at YVR, please read here for more information. For those arriving at other international airports in BC, please read here for more information.
- The tests will be required of all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status. The requirement will also apply to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Incoming travellers will have to self-isolate until they receive results of the test.
Canada has temporarily implemented new travel restrictions to incoming travellers from certain countries in response to the omicron variant. See the list here. - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has confirmed that given the current situation in BC, travellers who must transit through the United States to get to their residence in Canada are exempt from the COVID-19 pre-arrival test, the test in Canada, and quarantine requirements. Pre-existing exemptions within the Orders in Council (OIC) can be applied to travellers in this situation:
Exemption – Pre-Arrival Test – By Land S1.T2.I20: A person who enters Canada to return to their habitual place of residence in Canada after carrying out everyday functions that, due to geographical constraints, necessarily involve entering the United States
Exemption – Quarantine S2.T1.I14: A person who enters Canada to return to their habitual place of residence in Canada after carrying out everyday functions that, due to geographical constraints, necessarily involve entering the United States
Exemption – Test in Canada S2.T2.I14: A person who enters Canada to return to their habitual place of residence in Canada after carrying out everyday functions that, due to geographical constraints, necessarily involve entering the United States - As of October 30, all travellers aged 12 and older taking flights leaving Canadian airports or travelling on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains must be fully vaccinated before boarding. Marine passengers on non-essential passenger vessels like cruise ships must also complete the vaccination series before travelling. Marine vessels do not include ferries.
- Fully vaccinated international travellers (including American citizens and permanent residents living in the USA) can now enter Canada for leisure travel. Find out if you can enter Canada, here.
- At this time, non-essential travel to, from or within Northern BC, Fraser East and the Interior remains discouraged for unvaccinated people, excluding children who are traveling with vaccinated adults. Learn more.
- As of August 25, masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces throughout BC to help slow the transmission of COVID-19 as BC prepares for the fall and respiratory illness season.
- Starting September 13, proof of vaccination will be required in BC to attend certain social and recreational events, including indoor ticketed sporting events, indoor and patio dining at restaurants, fitness centres, casinos and indoor organized events, including conferences and weddings. Starting October 25, capacity limits at these businesses/events will be lifted. Learn more about proof of vaccination, here.
- For the latest information on travel to Canada including the updated federal requirements and restrictions, please visit the Government of Canada website here.
- Further details on the COVID-19 situation in BC can be found at: gov.bc.ca/COVID-19.
The Province has created a dedicated phone service to provide British Columbians with non-medical information about COVID-19, including the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing. Information is available in more than 110 languages, seven days a week between 7:30 am-8 pm, at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 1-888-268-4319.
Please travel responsibly: plan your trip in advance, be adventure smart and practice safety in our forests and on our waters. Please practice kindness and patience when visiting our tourism businesses, communities and First Nations communities; our strong and resilient industry is happy to see you, but it may take time to resume previous levels of our world-class service.
