COVID-19 Update: New Details for B.C. & Alberta’s Restrictions

British Columbia and Alberta are updating their COVID-19 public health measures on Monday, October 25. British Columbia is lifting more restrictions for organized events and dining services while Alberta’s proof of vaccination dose requirements are changing. Here’s what food businesses need to know.

Additional restrictions lifted in British Columbia

Starting Monday, October 25, additional restrictions for indoor and outdoor gatherings will be lifted in the province. Venues that require proof of vaccination for individuals to enter can operate at full capacity, although dancing is not permitted. This includes gatherings for:

• indoor organized events such as weddings and funeral receptions
• indoor concerts, movie theatres and theatre performances
• indoor sporting events

Indoor and outdoor dining does not have any group limits. Starting October 25, people are no longer required to stay seated, liquor service hours can return to normal operating times and venues can set their own table limits. Dancing is not permitted.

Regional restrictions remain in place

Public health orders in the following regions with lower vaccination rates will remain in place.

Fraser Health

• Capacity limits remain in place for indoor and outdoor gatherings.
• People must show proof of full vaccination to attend organized gatherings such as ticketed events.
• Event organizers must collect contact information from all attendees.
• A COVID-19 safety plan must be in place for events.

Interior Health

• Capacity limits remain in place for indoor and outdoor gatherings.
• People must show proof of full vaccination to attend organized events.
• Indoor-organized gatherings are limited to less than 50 people.
• Outdoor organized gatherings are limited to less than 100 people.
• Event organizers must collect contact information from all attendees.

Northern Health

For local health areas east of Gitwangak (Kitwanga):

• People must show proof of full vaccination to attend organized events.
• Indoor-organized gatherings are limited to 50 people.
• Outdoor organized gatherings are limited to 100 people.
• Fast food restaurants and unlicensed cafes that do not offer table service can provide take-out service only or require individuals to provide proof of vaccination.
• Licensed businesses, and establishments that offer table service and tasting rooms without full meal service must require individuals to provide proof of vaccination and are not permitted to serve alcohol between 10 pm and 9 am.
• Bars and nightclubs that do not offer full meal service must close.

For local health areas west of Gitwangak (Kitwanga):

• Outdoor gatherings with more than 200 people, all indoor events, and indoor and outdoor sporting events with spectators must have a COVID-19 safety plan in place.

Alberta’s proof of vaccination requirements

Effective Monday, October 25, Albertans trying to access businesses participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) will need to show proof that they are more than 14 days past getting their second dose of the vaccine. Currently, residents only need to provide proof that they are more than 14 days past getting their first dose.

Albertans who have not downloaded their proof of vaccination QR code are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Now that the province has launched their proof of vaccination verification app, called AB Covid Records Verifier, businesses need to transition into checking proof of vaccination by scanning an individual’s QR code.

If a green checkmark appears once a QR code is scanned, that means proof of vaccination is verified. Businesses can accept QR codes in digital or printed form.

Starting November 15, the QR code and scanner method will be the only acceptable proof of vaccination in the province.