Port Coquitlam is closing down city hall and suspending all indoor group fitness activities in an effort to comply with new orders from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
The restrictions apply to the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health region and limit social gatherings to direct members of a household for the next two weeks. They also limit travel, social gatherings and indoor group exercises, like yoga or spin classes, along with indoor sports like minor hockey.
“The numbers over the last few days are alarming and very concerning,” said Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West. “I am calling on our community to do their part and follow all health orders. This will significantly help in slowing the spread of the virus so we can all have better days ahead.”
Effective immediately, the city said group fitness classes, including Aquafit at Hyde Creek and spinning, yoga and dance classes at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC), have been suspended. Indoor games and competitions where physical distancing cannot be maintained have been cancelled and city hall will have in-person services available by appointment only.
“No spectators at indoor or outdoor sports,” said a press release. “The outdoor bleachers at the two turf fields will be closed to discourage spectators.”
But there are still some recreation activities available to the public.
Pre-registered weight room and skating time slots are still available at PCCC, along with swimming time slots and lessons at Hyde Creek pool.
The Terry Fox library remains open.
For more information go to portcoquitlam.ca/covid19.
Henry’s sweeping new restrictions come as swaths of southwest B.C. have broken COVID-19 daily caseload records. Social gatherings, like parties or other events, have been prohibited for the next two weeks, she said last Saturday.
“We need to go back to what we were doing in March, April and May,” she said. “We bring our risk with us and we take our risk back with us when we return.”
