In response to sweeping new restrictions put in place yesterday by Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, the city of Kamloops has made a number of changes to its own COVID-19 rules.

That includes mandatory masks in common and public spaces inside civic buildings.

City staff will also liaise with people who have rented community halls to ensure that their events are compliant with public health orders that restrict organized events, community and social gatherings, as well as group exercise classes.

“The City has made some changes in response to the new health orders that are very important for the safety of the public and staff while making sure that both the business of the City and the ability for the public to participate in City projects and Council meetings continues,” said Mayor Ken Christian.

“I urge everyone to follow the orders and limit their social interactions. We are in this together. It will take all of us.”

Further, all public engagement sessions on city projects will be held virtually until the new year. That includes an open house for the North Shore Plan that was to happen tomorrow, Nov. 21, at the Holiday Inn & Suites.

Attendance at Council and Committee meetings as well as public hearings will be restricted to council and staff until further notice, though the meetings will be broadcast online via Zoom.

The city has also cancelled some high-intensity indoor fitness classes including strength intervals, cyclefit, HIIT, and TRX classes. People who registered for those classes have been contacted, and other classes will be modified to reduce the intensity.

“The general message delivered by [Dr. Henry] that we are deep within the second wave of this pandemic, and we all need to increase the safety measures we have been practicing to break the COVID-19 transmission cycle,” CAO David Trawin said.

“These orders are currently in effect until December 8; however, Dr. Henry has indicated that these will be revisited and might be extended.”