The state of emergency, which allows health and emergency management officials to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to deal with the pandemic response, has been extended through the end of the day on Oct 13. A provincial declaration of a state of emergency allows the province to implement provincial emergency measures and allows access to assets that may be necessary to prevent, respond to or alleviate the effects of an emergency.
The extension is based on recommendations from B.C.’s health and emergency management officials. The original declaration was made on March 18, the day after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry declared a public health emergency.
B.C.’s COVID-19 Related Measures Act came into force in July, enabling provisions created for citizens and businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to continue as needed should the provincial state of emergency end.
B.C. voters will head to the polls Oct. 24 in the first provincial election called since the pandemic began.
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