No plans to close B.C. ski hills yet: Dr. Bonnie Henry

While Ontario has closed all ski hills in a move to curb the spread of COVID-19 over the holidays, B.C. isn't ready to follow suit.

"We've been talking about this quite a bit, particularly (with the) larger outbreak at Big White (Ski Resort)," Dr. Bonnie Henry said today, Dec. 21, when asked about what the plan was in B.C.

To date those discussions resulted in a review with the industry about the appropriate safety protocols, particularly when it comes to preventing gatherings.

Most ski hills, she said, have been good at ensuring line-ups are reasonable and that gathering points are dismantled.

"But we need people to do their own bit as well," she said.

"What we saw on Big White and we've seen it in Whistler and we've seen it in some other communities as well, is that the shared accommodations and having those gatherings and parties and get-togethers with people in those accommodations, that's where the virus is transmitting. So, we all need to do our part to stop that."

To date, the Big White outbreak has 76 cases of COVID-19 related to a couple of parties.


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Kathy Michaels

Kathy Michaels has been an Okanagan-based journalist for more than a decade, working for community papers along the valley and beyond.
She’s won provincial and national awards in business, news and feature writing and says that her love for telling a good story rivals only her fondness for turning a good phrase.
If you have a story that deserves to be told in a thoughtful and compassionate manner, don’t hesitate to reach out.
To reach Kathy call 250-718-0428 or email kmichaels@infonews.ca.