B.C. health officials looking into whether night clubs are operating within COVID-19 rules

As the COVID-19 exposure advisory for the No5 Orange strip club was expanded on Wednesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said B.C. health officials arelooking into whether the rules for night clubs are being followed, and if they need changing.

Officials advise thatanyone who visited the No5Orange on July 3, 4, and 7 may have come into contact with the virus after an earlier warning saidanyone who attended the strip club on July 1was at risk.

Dix said the No5 Orange warning, along with one at another strip club in Vancouver, Brandi's, and a downtown nightclub, Hotel Belmont, wereissued because of the inability to contact everyone who visited the clubs.

Establishments are required to gather contact information for everyone who visits, in case there's an exposure and officials need to follow-up.

Dix said health officials are now looking into whether the rules were followed in the three cases, and whether the rules need changing.

"With respect to nightclubs as a class, they're getting in under the food and liquor categories right now," said Dix. "The presentations are being characterized as events."

Dixsaid the events are limited to 50 people and theindustry, in general, has been very concerned about following the rules and maintaining public confidence.

Vancouver CoastalHealth (VHC) expanded the No5 Orange warning because a secondperson who had been at the club tested positive. Anyone who was at the business on the days in questionis asked to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days. If any develop, VCHasks that they immediately self-isolate and arrange to get tested.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, cough,runny nose, sore throat,diarrhea, andloss of smell.

The virus can bespread by droplets that become airbornewhen an infected person coughs,sneezes or exhales. And also when a person touches a surface contaminated withthe virus and then touches their mouth, nose oreyes before washing their hands.