Whistler had 547 cases of COVID-19 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2, Health Minister Adrian Dix revealed during a press conference on Friday, Feb. 5, primarily focused on sharing the province鈥檚 epidemiological modelling.
鈥淭he majority of cases in Whistler continue to be identified in young people in their 20s and 30s who live, work, and socialize together,鈥� Dix said.
Only two cases in the resort required short stays in the hospital and none have resulted in deaths.
鈥淎lmost all the recent cases that are associated with transmission [occurred] within households and social settings, according to our contact tracing,鈥� he added.
Dix also said 鈥渟ignificant enforcement鈥� is taking place in Whistler and praised the efforts of Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton.
鈥淒r. Henry and I spent time and were working with the mayor of Whistler, Jack Crompton, who鈥檚 played an extraordinary leadership role 鈥� I want to acknowledge his work.鈥�
Dix also alluded to a 鈥渇ull action plan鈥� that the Ministry of Tourism is expected to release next week to reduce transmission at ski hills across the province.
鈥淲e want to take those actions and focus in on the source of transmission and limit transmission and not have to take broader action with respect to the entire industry,鈥� he said.
That said, Dix reiterated that transmission appears to be coming from social settings. Last weekend, WorkSafeBC conducted 61 inspections in Whistler and 鈥渁 couple dozen鈥� inspections from environmental health officers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not skiing on the mountain that鈥檚 been the principal source of transmission,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l continue increasing [inspections]鈥攁nd I think you鈥檒l see an increase in communications, more details of the plan, both from the industry, involving health authorities, but also the Ministry of Tourism鈥攖o target transmission in the coming weeks. I think it鈥檚 very important we do that because no one wants to take broader action that would curtail the season.鈥�
鈥淏ut we need to take action now 鈥� That鈥檚 way, way, way too many cases.鈥�
Who can visit Whistler?
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, meanwhile, further clarified somewhat confusing messaging in recent weeks about who is allowed to travel to Whistler to ski.
鈥淭he other thing that we鈥檝e been saying for some time now is stay local. For Whistler, that means day trips only. Right now is not the time to go up there and party. And that is important because the community needs to be protected from us and we need鈥攊f we鈥檙e going up to Whistler鈥攏ot to 鈥� bring the virus back with us to our communities,鈥� she said.
But, she added, ensure you鈥檙e using the Whistler Blackcomb reservation system before you visit. 鈥淭hey need to check ahead to make sure that there is space on the mountain. That鈥檚 been another issue that we鈥檝e heard has been a concern.鈥�
Stay tuned for news on ski passes
It appears news will also be coming next week to address the issue of non-locals who purchased Whistler Blackcomb season passes and are nervous about coming up with such high numbers in the resort鈥攐r have been adhering to travel restrictions to stay local.
Henry said an 鈥渋ndustry group鈥� has been working on a plan. 鈥淭hat is one of the concerns that has been brought to their attention,鈥� she said.
Again, she added, skiing with your household bubble is not considered a risk.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the befores and afters and the parties and the getting together and the social gatherings,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose have never been acceptable and that is where we鈥檙e seeing transmission happening in several communities. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important to visit, not vacation.鈥�
