The COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia formed part of an ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).</noinclude> On January 28, 2020, British Columbia became the second province to confirm a case of COVID-19 in Canada. The first case of infection involved a patient who had recently returned from Wuhan, Hubei, China. The first case of community transmission in Canada was confirmed in British Columbia on March 5, 2020.
British Columbians took numerous emergency measures in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus, such as social distancing and self-isolation. On March 23, 2020, British Columbian Premier John Horgan announced the details of the province-wide emergency relief plan, which includes income support, tax relief and direct funding in order to mitigate economic effects of the pandemic. The public health emergency was ultimately ended on July 26, 2024, with all remaining public health orders rescinded.
Management A public health emergency was declared in the province on March 17. On June 29, 2021, BC Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth signed Ministerial Order M275 to come into effect at the end of the day on June 30, 2021, ending the province-wide state of emergency since March 18, 2020. Several municipalities in the Metro Vancouver Regional District have declared local states of emergency, including Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Surrey, and Richmond.
On March 19, the BC Housing Management Commission placed a moratorium on evictions from government subsidized housing.
British Columbia provided an online self assessment tool for those who are concerned they may be infected. First responders such as police and firefighters began asking screening questions about COVID-19 symptoms prior to attendance, and may have worn additional personal protective equipment upon attendance to residences.
Closures Gatherings of over 50 people were banned, and bars and nightclubs were ordered to close. Restaurants and cafes were initially permitted to remain open provided that staff maintained physical distance from customers. However, on March 20, provincial health officer Bonnie Henry ordered the closure of all dine-in establishments. On March 21, she mandated the closure of all personal service establishments, including day spas, hair and beauty salons, and tattoo parlours, until further notice. Several municipalities, including Vancouver, Delta, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody closed public playgrounds.
Numerous businesses voluntarily reduced their operating hours or closed physical locations. Many transitioned their operations to phone and internet services.
Timeline
2020 January to April The first case in British Columbia was reported on January 28. The person had returned from Wuhan and began experiencing symptoms on January 26, with self-isolation beginning immediately.
The first case in BC's interior was reported on February 14. The person had recently returned from China, and was self-isolating.
The first case in the Fraser Health region was reported on February 20. This was also the first BC case where the person had travelled from Iran. The person immediately began self-isolation.
The first two cases in the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver were reported on March 7. One resident and one staff member were diagnosed, and the centre is thought to be Canada's first case of community transmission. BC's first two cases linked to the Grand Princess were hospitalized and also reported on March 7.
On March 9, the Lynn Valley outbreak resulted in Canada's first death: a man in his 80s with pre-existing health conditions.
On March 17, three more deaths were announced: two were at the Lynn Valley Care Center, and the other was "in [a] hospital in the Fraser Health region".
On March 19, a death was reported at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, followed by an additional death on March 21.
On April 17, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that B.C. had succeeded in reducing the number of cases, the health-care system was not overwhelmed, and that the province had "flattened [the] curve".
On April 24, Attorney General David Eby appointed Allan Seckel to chair a Cross-Jurisdictional Technical Advisory Group to assist the provincial court system amidst public health restrictions.
May to August On May 13, it was disclosed that while in the quarantine system imposed by the government of British Columbia on international arrivals, eight farm workers out of 1,500 had tested positive for COVID-19 disease. The province started allowing imported farmhands in April and was the only province to implement mandatory quarantine.
On May 19, the government announced that it was advancing to phase 2 of the restart plan, allowing all retail, restaurants, libraries, museums, offices and childcare to reopen. Parks and beaches were also allowed to reopen with social distancing requirements in place. Medically necessary services for physiotherapy, dentistry, massage therapy and chiropractic were also allowed to resume, along with hair salons and counselling services.
On June 24, Premier John Horgan and Henry announced that BC had successfully flattened the curve enough to allow the province to proceed to phase 3 of the restart plan, allowing the film industry to resume, and a return for in-person education for elementary and high school students in September. Gatherings of people greater than 50 were still prohibited. Entry to stage 4 was conditional on "widespread vaccination, community immunity, or successful treatments"; the national and global numbers of active cases also needed to decline in order for the province to recommend its implementation. Once BC moved to stage 4, conventions, concerts, international tourism, and professional sports would have been allowed.
In July 2020 the Provincial Government announced back to school plans for the 2020–21 school year.
In August 2020, the Ministry of Health reviewed guidance from the World Health Organization that indicated that younger children were likely not notable vectors of transmission for SARS-CoV-2, and were at significantly lower risk of developing COVID-19 than adults.
On August 4, a group of doctors and dentists operating under the name Masks4Canada published an open letter to Henry, Dix and Horgan requesting the implementation of mask mandates and supporting an educational initiative to increase mask use. They reiterated the call for firmer action one week later.
September to December
On September 18, the Attorney General of British Columbia announced that civil jury trials would be suspended for one year, beginning September 28.
On October 19, Henry declared that British Columbia was in a second wave. On October 30, MLA Adrian Dix announced an amended Provincial Health Officer order, which limits gatherings in private residences to six guests.
On October 21, British Columbia declared the first school outbreak at École de l’Anse-au-sable in Kelowna.
On October 27, the President of UFCW 1518, Kim Novak, wrote to Henry requesting that she mandate that customers wear masks while shopping at grocery stores.
On October 29, Interior Health declared the outbreak at Okanagan Men's Centre in Winfield.
On November 5, BC Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender issued a guidance document on human rights considerations surrounding face mask policies.
On November 7, Henry announced two-week regional lockdown measures including the restriction of all social gatherings of any size in the Fraser and Vancouver regions to immediate household members only from 10 p.m. until noon of November 23. Other measures restricted travel and group fitness activities.
On November 11, Island Health declared first outbreak on Vancouver Island at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
On November 12, Henry shared modelling data that suggests BC could expect the number of daily new cases to surpass 1,000 unless residents alter their behaviours.
On November 13, the BC Centre for Disease Control released the October subregional map showing Surrey now has the most COVID-19 cases in British Columbia. Fraser Health also declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Platinum Athletic Club at King George Boulevard, after 42 customers tested positive between October 21 and November 7. In the city vicinity, several Loblaws grocery stores and pharmacies in the Lower Mainland, including Real Canadian Superstore, Wholesale Club, Shoppers Drug Mart, and T&T Supermarket reported positive tests for COVID-19. Vancouver Coastal Health issued COVID-19 exposure notices for three restaurants in Whistler between October 31 and November 6.
On November 14, three schools in the Fraser Health region were closed for two weeks after an outbreak and two "clusters" were reported. Fraser Health issued a public exposure notice for Slumber Lodge Motel in Hope November 7–9. British Columbia also introduced new fines for Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health: party buses and limousines spotted on the streets will be issued a $2,000 fine plus an additional $200 for each participating individual.
On November 16, four new care home outbreaks were declared in Surrey, New Westminster and Burnaby. Dr. Bonnie Henry penned an op-ed addressing why there is not a universal mask mandate in BC, explaining that "[o]rdering universal mask use in all situations creates unnecessary challenges with enforcement and stigmatization."
On November 17, Island Health reported the first long-term care home outbreak in Port Alberni at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens. In Victoria, a city hall employee was diagnosed between November 13–16, and began self-isolating shortly after. Additional potential public exposures at Sobeys and Loblaws groceries stores and pharmacies were also reported. The outbreak at Tabor care home in the Fraser Valley reached 101 cases. Provincial Health Services Authority President Réka Gustafson stated that children were twice as likely to catch COVID-19 at home than at school or daycare, indicating to Bonnie Henry and colleagues that transmission rates within schools are overestimated.
On November 18, Horgan filed "Second Components" to BC's regional COVID-19 orders, hinted at more restrictions, and asked the federal government to discourage travel between the provinces amid the increase of COVID-19 cases.
On November 19, the BC government issued several new public health orders, including the compulsory wearing of masks in indoor public spaces, and the expansion of the lower mainland specific health orders of November 7 to the entire province. Event, church service and gathering restrictions would be in place until December 7 at the earliest, prohibiting all social interaction outside of immediate household or core-bubbles. Northern Health declared an outbreak at an LNG site after 14 employees were confirmed positive in Kitimat, who were immediately told to self-isolate. The Society of BC Veterinarian announced an increase of "kennel cough" among the dogs in the Lower Mainland that may have been connected to the pandemic.
On November 20, Surrey reported 19 school exposures within 24 hours.
On November 21, Interior Health declared an outbreak at Orchard Manor in Kelowna over a positive test of a staff member.
On November 23, the outbreak at Nanaimo General Hospital which was declared on Remembrance Day, was declared over. Over the weekend, Campbell River declared an outbreak at a seniors home.