New order on B.C. rental properties to prevent Covid spread

Jul 23, 2020 | 1:15 PM

B.C.’s provincial health officer is issuing a new order to try and reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the province.

Dr. Bonnie Henry is requiring those who rent properties — such as rooms, houses, air bnb’s, boats and houseboats — to limit number of guests and visitors as part of rental agreements.

Henry said more specifics of the order will be released soon.

“As with our other orders, the onus falls on the owner-operators to ensure the restrictions are being followed and we can support that with local bylaw and public health enforcement. We are working out the specifics, and it will be available within the next day, but we are looking at building it into rental agreements and ensuring that these are adhered to at all vacation and rental properties and resorts.”

Henry said the exact numbers are still being worked out, but says they will be manageable.

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“The challenge is people get together, and then they have parties and invite people over, so it will be restrictions on the number of people based on the size of the houseboat, the boat or the room, but also restrictions on the visitors in those rental properties.”

Henry made the order after announcing 30 new Covid cases since Wednesday, which includes 11 in Interior Health.

There are 80 cases associated with the Kelowna cluster.

There are 304 active cases in B.C., and one new death, bringing the total to 190.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said now is the time for residents to renew their commitment to stop the spread.

“It all depends on us. Our visits to long term care, school for children, surgeries for patients, our economy, our health, our safety, our family, our friends, our loved ones. We are counting on one another. It depends on us stopping the spread right now. And we have to continue to join, or rejoin, the fight to do so,” said Dix.

Case counts:

1,051 Vancouver Coastal

1,750 Fraser Health

142 Vancouver Island

315 in Interior Health

77 Northern Health

57 outside Canada

Total cases 3,392

304 active cases, 16 in hospital, 3 in ICU or critical

2,898 have fully recovered

One new death, a person in long term care (region not disclosed) (190)

by Pete McIntyre