Fraser Health just released an updated list of businesses shut down due to multiple COVID-19 cases and a popular New Westminster pub is on the list.
The Paddlewheeler Pub at 810 Quayside Drive has been added with the closure date starting on May 21. These closures usually last about 10 days. It's unclear if the pub was really open for business due to COVID-19 restrictions on indoor dining, but Fraser Health has it listed.
Also on the list is Planet Fitness on King George in Surrey and the No. 1 Beef Noodle Restaurant at 4741 Willingdon Ave. in Burnaby.
On April 8, B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry implemented a new public health order that expedites temporary closures when three or more employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and transmission has been confirmed at the workplace.
It empowers WorkSafeBC to issue the closure order for 10 days or longer and work with businesses to review and enhance their COVID-19 safety plans. In larger workplaces like construction sites, the closure may only affect one area or team.
Public health will assess whether essential workplaces like fire halls, grocery stores and pharmacies should remain open, but they will be supported in other ways, she told a news conference.
The strategy aims to avoid sector-wide closures, which Henry said are "really a blunt tool" for combating infections.
"In these ways, we can keep people working safely and augment the measures already in place," she said.
The number of new Coronavirus cases detected in a day dropped below for the first time in months.
That's among the new data released today (Monday) by the province. Over the Friday (May 21) to Sunday (May 23) period 974 new cases of the virus were detected: 356 in the 24-hour period from May 21 to 22, 325 between May 22 to May 23, and 293 between May 23 to May 24. The province currently has 3,953 active cases.
"Of the active cases, 292 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 96 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation," says Dr. Bonnie Henry and health minister Adrian Dix in a joint statement. That's 27 fewer in hospital and 11 fewer in ICU than last reported.
Over the same period the province has recorded 12 more deaths.
Since the last announcement 995 people have recovered, according to the province.
The Fraser health region still leads the province in new cases with 630 over the 72-hour period. In Vancouver Coastal 157 were reported. Interior health saw 117 new cases, Northern health recorded 44 and Island health has just 25 new cases.
