The province has extended its state of Emergency through the end of the day April 28, according to an announcement from the B.C. government on Wednesday (April 15).
“Through this challenging time, British Columbians are leading the way in our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Premier John Horgan in a statement. “We are starting to see the results of our sacrifice, dedication and hard work, and we must continue to be steadfast in our commitment to keep our communities safe – for ourselves, our loved ones and our workers on the front lines.”
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said residents of B.C. should be proud of their efforts thus far, “but the work is not over.”
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“We must hold our ground and take all the steps needed to make sure our communities remain safe and our essential service workers are supported in our ongoing efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Farnworth said in a statement.
It was this state of emergency that suspended the State of Local Emergency (SOLE) in Harrison Hot Springs along with SOLEs across the province. Harrison mayor Leo Facio declared the SOLE in late March with the provincial orders coming down four days later. The SOLE involved the complete closure of Esplanade Avenue, recreational facilities and public washrooms in an effort to deter visitors from coming to the village until the pandemic has subsided.
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The 2-1-1 phone line is available for all residents to use, connecting them to non-emergency community health and social services in the area.
For the latest updates on the COVID-19 in the province, stay tuned to the Observer as well as the B.C. CDC at http://covid-19.bccdc.ca.
adam.louis@ahobserver.com
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