Vancouver Island's chief medical health officer recommends avoiding travel to Lower Mainland

As the number of daily COVID-19 cases continues to rise in B.C., Island Health's chief medical health officer is urging residents to avoid travel to the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland until the new public health orders are lifted or the number of infections decreases.

B.C.'s top health officials announced sweeping new COVID-19 restrictions for the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions for a two-week period startingSaturday, as cases in the province continued to surge.

Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer for Island Health, recommends people on the Islandstay away from Vancouver unless it is essential,as contact tracing evidence shows that somepeople who have travelled to the Lower Mainland have come back exposed to COVID-19.

"We do know and we've certainly documented that people who have gone over there have come back with more than just a good time, but with COVID," Stanwick told All Points West host Kathryn Marlow on Tuesday.

• B.C. announces new COVID-19 restrictions for Metro Vancouver health regions for 2 weeks as cases surge

Given that the Lower Mainland is now considered a hot spot, Stanwickbelieves avoiding travel to thearea is one easyway Island residentscansupportthe efforts of health officials as they try to manage the case load.

"Let's support the efforts being done in the Lower Mainland by not going over there and possibly adding to their problem," Stanwick added.

The new order from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry focused on social gatherings, travel, indoor group exerciseand workplaces. She asked residents in the two affected health regions to not engage in any social interactions outside their immediate households and recommended avoiding travel unless it is essential.

Stanwick said while it is still safe on the Island to continue socializing with your "safe six," he recommendspeople "shrink [their] social bubbles," if possible.

"That's what is going to allow us to get back down to those handful of cases ... becausethat could creep up," he said."And it doesn't take much for this to get away and then you end up chasing the virus instead of controlling it."

On Thursday, Island Health reporteda total of 51 active cases in the region.