The City of Richmond and community associations are closing their fitness centres and gyms and suspending fitness classes as of midnight Wednesday after new restrictions came from province in order to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
The number of cases in B.C. has more than tripled in two weeks – 1,308 cases were reported on Tuesday, a new all-time daily high.
In Richmond, numbers are climbing as well. There were 120 cases between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19 – up from 71 cases last week (Dec. 7-13), according to data from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
This includes 24 new cases in Steveston and 24 in Thompson/Seafair (see list at bottom for all neighbourhoods).
Meanwhile, the city’s pools and public skating remain unaffected by the new restrictions.
However, according to the city, proof of vaccination is now needed at pools as well, as per public health orders.
Daycamps for children and youth as well as recreational classes, like art, music, photography, are also staying open as are sports, including adult sports and drop-in programs. Tournaments, however, are suspended because of the provincial health order.
Anyone who is registered for a class that’s suspended will have the session postponed, or a credit will be put on their account, the city clarified.
Anyone attending city or community association programs must show their QR-code proof of vaccination as well as government-issued photo ID every time they enter a facility – “frequent visitor markers” are no longer accepted at municipal facilities, the city confirmed.
Furthermore, bars and nightclubs have been ordered closed, and restaurants can only sit six people per table.
Provincial restrictions are in place until at least Jan. 18.
Richmond COVID-19 cases – Dec. 13-19
Steveston: 24
Thompson/Seafair: 24
City Centre: 21
Blundell: 19
Gilmore/Shellmont/East/Hamilton: 18
East-West Cambie/Bridgeport: 8
Broadmoor: 6
