Interior Health Resources for Food Service Establishments

The following links provide information that may help you address, remediate and manage operations to ensure public health safety, during and after flooding or landslide events. It’s important that you follow your emergency response plan.

• Power Outages at Food Facilities: Food safety considerations for operators after a power outage (e.g., following a flooding/landslide event and power shut-down/evacuation).

• Flood Information for Food Premises: Information for food premises to help prepare for the potential impacts when a flood is imminent, and when re-entering premises and cleaning up to resume normal operations.

• Drinking Water and Use Notifications: General information on drinking water notifications and food preparation and service. Floods and landslides will often result in public water advisories.

• Assessing Sewage Disposal Systems for Damage after an Emergency Event : Information on how to contact an Authorized Person to assess the status of and repair your system if needed.

• Environmental Public Health – Environmental Health & Licensing – Contacts: Information on how to contact an Environmental Health Officer or Licensing Officer.

Interior Health Updated COVID-19 Orders Related to Events

Interior Health is updating COVID-19 regional medical health officer orders to make it possible for larger events to go ahead in the Interior, as long as participants show proof of full vaccination.

With the introduction of the BC Vaccine Card, an update has been made to the Interior region Gatherings and Events Order:

• For smaller organized events, participants will be required to show proof of vaccination (minimum one dose) until Oct. 24, 2021. By Oct. 24, full vaccination (two doses) will be required. Indoor events may be held with up to 50 people, and outdoor events may be up to 100 people.

• Proof of full vaccination will be required for participants at all large events, consistent with Step 3 of B.C.’s Restart Plan. This means indoor events may be held that include 50 people or 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity (whichever is greater); outdoor events may include 5,000 people or 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity (whichever is greater).

High-intensity group exercise classes in the Interior are now permitted, provided all participants and instructors are fully vaccinated with two doses. All other fitness and exercise classes require proof of a minimum of one dose of the vaccine until Oct. 24, after which time two doses will be required.

The following regional medical health officer orders remain in place across the Interior region:

• Gatherings in vacation rentals are limited to five guests or one other household.

• Outdoor personal gatherings (e.g., birthday parties, backyard BBQs, block parties) are limited to no more than 50 people, and indoor personal gatherings are limited to five guests or one other household.

For individuals not fully vaccinated, non-essential travel to or from the Interior remains discouraged.

In addition, the central Okanagan Food and Liquor Serving Premises Order is now lifted, and alcohol service may resume after 10 p.m. effective today. These measures will remain in place until Interior Health experiences lower cases and higher vaccination rates.

The Provincial Health Officer has issued an order mandating masks in public indoor settings. Details are located here.

The interval between first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses has decreased to 28 days for everyone. People can get vaccinated by dropping into any IH immunization clinic and are available here.

Testing continues to be available to anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. People can book an appointment online here or call 1-877-740-7747 between 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily.

People can get their first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by dropping in to any IH immunization clinic or by making an appointment.

To make an appointment, register online by visiting the provincial website at: www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca/, call 1-833-838-2323, or visit a Service BC office listed here, and then book an appointment.

For a list of all Interior Health COVID-19 immunization clinics and other resources visit: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/covid-19-vaccines