Northern Health to reverse and revise Public Health Orders related to Worship Services

Prince Rupert area churches such as St. Pauls Lutheran
can move forward with holiday service plans as
Northern Health revises their COVID gatherings regulations
(Photo from St. Paul's Lutheran FB page) 

Northern Health has issued a notice today that will see their Public Health Orders related to Worship Services revised, allowing those who have been vaccinated to gather  with conditions.

In the Revised order to go into effect at Midnight tonight and last until at least January 31st the new regulations will include:

Under the recent changes, faith-based organizations will be allowed to resume in-person worship services, as long as they are limited to 50% capacity in the place of worship and all participants over the age of 11 are vaccinated. 

Virtual or drive-in services can be held without a check of vaccination status. 

The revised order also removes proof of vaccination requirements for outside events, in line with provincial measures. 

Other measures in the NH regional order include: Up to 10 fully-vaccinated people gathering inside personal residences, and up to 25 outside (increased from 5, and 15) Increasing capacity for inside seated events, including weddings, funerals and theatre and performing arts events, to 50% of capacity venue (increased from 50-person cap) with proof of vaccination Increasing outside event capacity to 50% (increase from 100-person cap)

The Full statement from Northern Health can be reviewed here.

Northern Health notes that the changes have come as they continue to evaluate levels of COVID-19 activity and ongoing impacts on the health care system, individuals, and communities.

The move will be a welcome one for members of Prince Rupert Faith communities who recently organized a group to take the issue of the restrictions on Worship Services to both Northern Health and the provincial Government.

As we noted on Wednesday, the group known as Reopen Worship for Prince Rupert, already had plans in motion to launch a letter writing campaign to address their concerns with North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, as well as other measures to share their frustration at the inequality that they had seen in the previous regulations.

A message perhaps heard quickly, with the Health Minister Adrian Dix sharing word of the changes today through Social Media as did North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice.

Reopen Worship issued a statement late Thursday afternoon to share their enthusiasm for the decision, as well as to thank the leadership of Pastor Diana Edis from St. Paul's as well as that of the Ministerial Association of Prince Rupert.

The organization also thanked North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice for showing leadership locally towards their concerns.

The full statement can be reviewed here.

More notes from Northern Health can be explored here.