In-person religious gatherings are allowed again in B.C. – so long as they are outdoors and small-scale.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry ammended current COVID-19 health orders Tuesday (March 23), following consultation with religious leaders and others.
In-person religious services have been banned in the province since November, when Henry put in a slew of restrictions on events and gatherings.
Now, organizers of outdoor services will need to have a safety plan in place and ensure attendees follow the rules.
The relaxed restrictions follow a heated few months between government and faith leaders, ending with several B.C. churches losing an appeal to the order in B.C. Supreme Court in early March.
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Henry has said the province is working on how to begin a “gradual and safe phased reopening of ongoing indoor services” in April.
– with files from Katya Slepian
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