Vancouver expands St. Patrick’s Day restaurant-and-bar ban to entire city

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver Coastal Health is requiring all restaurants, bars, lounges, and similar venues throughout Vancouver to close their doors Tuesday, for St. Patrick’s Day, as part of efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

This expands the closure beyond the initially announced downtown core.

St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally an extremely busy time in such venues, as large crowds gather to celebrate, Vancouver Coastal Health says in a release.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, issued a public health order Monday limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people.

Vancouver Coastal Health Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Patricia Daly decided Tuesday to support that order by implementing the closure of all bars and restaurants in Vancouver.

“Given that the Government of British Columbia has now limited the size of public gatherings to 50 persons, it is only prudent that we require restaurant and bar operators to cooperate with efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Daly said.

“We understand this is may pose a financial hardship for operators, but the seriousness of the health care challenge that COVID-19 presents to our community cannot be underestimated.”

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