Island Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Richard Stanwick, has issued a Public Health Order to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 at campgrounds and RV parks. This is an important step as we continue to see a rise in the number of positive cases throughout the province and within our health region.
Effective November 13, all owners and operators of campgrounds and RV parks must collect information from each patron that would enable contact tracing, including names and phone numbers. This information must be kept for a period of 30 days.
“We need to do everything we can to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and we know effective contact tracing plays a significant role,” says Dr. Stanwick. “I appreciate the support of Tourism Vancouver Island in our collective efforts to help protect our families, friends and those who may be most at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus during the winter months.”
“We want to see our communities stay as safe as possible by educating visitors who have chosen to travel within our region and do so responsibly in accordance with current public health orders and guidelines,” says Anthony Everett, President and CEO, Tourism Vancouver Island. “We hope to see Vancouver Island strike a balance between health and safety and supporting the survival of our tourism industry which is vital to Islanders.”
The Provincial Health Officer has recently issued an order prohibiting all gatherings in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health regions. She has also asked those of us who live within Island Health to postpone any unnecessary travel to the Lower Mainland.
“Island Health has been working closely with WorksafeBC and will also work with RV and Campground operators to help keep people visiting their sites, and those in the community, safe,” said Gethsemane Luttrell, Director of Public Health Protection & Assessment with Island Health. “Our Environmental Health Officers will visit RV sites and campgrounds to provide the information necessary to ensure compliance of this order.”
The new order within Island Health ensures our public health teams will be able to trace any potential source of COVID-19, and provides important information about people who may travel through the Lower Mainland or come from other parts of Canada to Vancouver Island.
Each of us must continue to remain vigilant and do our part to flatten the curve. We can help keep our rates of COVID-19 transmission low within Island Health by:
- stick with six, keep 2m/6ft apart;
- stay home when sick;
- wash hands frequently;
- wear a mask when we can’t stay apart.
This new order is another step in our efforts to reduce the potential for transmission of the virus in our communities. Our Medical Health Officers continue to closely monitor COVID-19 case numbers and, depending on the trajectory, may further expand orders as necessary.
Read the Medical Health Officer Order
Central/North Island media inquiries
Dominic Abassi
250-755-7966
Dominic.Abassi@islandhealth.ca
Cowichan/South Island media inquiries
Cheryl Bloxham
250-370-8878
Cheryl.Bloxham@islandhealth.ca