Northern Health (NH) is updating public health orders for Gatherings and Events, to align with Provincial Health Officer Orders, and to allow worship services with COVID-19 safety requirements in place, including vaccination.
The regional public health orders covering all of the NH region are in response to sustained rates of COVID-19 activity and the impact on health care resources.
The revised NH Gatherings and Events COVID-19 Order takes effect at midnight, December 10, 2021, and will be in place until at least January 31, 2022, while NH and provincial public health officials continue to evaluate levels of COVID-19 activity and ongoing impacts on the health care system, individuals, and communities.
Under the recent changes, faith-based organizations will be allowed to resume in-person worship services, as long as they are limited to 50% capacity in the place of worship and all participants over the age of 11 are vaccinated. Virtual or drive-in services can be held without a check of vaccination status.
The revised order also removes proof of vaccination requirements for outside events, in line with provincial measures.
Other measures in the NH regional order include:
- Up to 10 fully-vaccinated people gathering inside personal residences, and up to 25 outside (increased from 5, and 15)
- Increasing capacity for inside seated events, including weddings, funerals and theatre and performing arts events, to 50% of capacity venue (increased from 50-person cap) with proof of vaccination
- Increasing outside event capacity to 50% (increase from 100-person cap)
Vaccination continues to be the best line of defence against COVID-19. There are ongoing vaccine clinic opportunities throughout the region, including for newly-eligible 5 to 11 year olds. Find a clinic.