The Provincial Health Officer and Minister of Health have directed stronger containment measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

• There is currently a state of emergency in BC and Schools K-12 are closed indefinitely and the border between the US and Canada is closed to all but essential services and citizens returning to their home countries.
  
• March 20 – Playgrounds are closed / Table service in restaurants closed (takeout only).

• All Cities in Metro Vancouver from Vancouver to Surrey have closed recreation centres, ice arenas, culture facilities, pools and libraries until further notice. City-run spring break camps and classes are cancelled. Please refer to the links below for specific details on City protocols for your region.

• Events organized by the Lower Mainland cities (from Vancouver to Surrey) that host more than 50 people will be cancelled until further notice.

• Do not to travel outside of Canada
  
• Self-isolate for 14 days upon returning home from outside Canada

COVID-19: Metro Vancouver family events postponed or cancelled due to coronavirus

Coronavirus Information Sources

Stick to official sources on the coronavirus for information on COVID-19 symptoms, transmission, self-monitoring, self-isolation, and prevention.

• World Health Organization – WHO
• Government of Canada – Public Health Services
• BC Centre for Disease Control – Coronavirus Information
• Fraser Health website – FAQs for Residents
• HealthLinkBC – Coronavirus
• Vancouver Coastal Health

Links to Metro Vancouver City COVID-19 Webpages

• City of Vancouver
• City of Burnaby
• City of Richmond
• City of Surrey
• City of Coquitlam
• City of Port Moody
• City of Port Coquitlam
• City of North Vancouver
• City of West Vancouver
• City of Abbotsford

How to Protect Yourself

Follow the same procedures you would during cold and flu season:

• Stay home if you’re sick, and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Wash hands regularly with soap and water. This is the single most effective way of reducing infection spread.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a sleeve/tissue and turn your head away from others when coughing or sneezing.
• Keep common surface areas like doorknobs, light switches and keyboards, clean and disinfected.
• Use social distancing measures: Canada’s public health agency’s guide for provincial and local health authorities defines social distancing as steps to “minimize close contact” with people in the community, such as “quarantine or self-isolation at the individual level” along with broader steps such as avoiding crowds.