Dr. Bonnie Henry provides COVID-19 update at 3 p.m.

B.C.’s provincial health officer cautioned Thursday the province could introduce new measures to curb COVID-19 transmission in gatherings like weddings and funerals, as the province announced a record-high 274 new cases. 

Dr. Bonnie Henry said the measures could include conditions on wedding licenses and restrictions on indoor gatherings. 

“We will use all the tools that are available,” she said. 

“The reality is that, right now, everywhere in B.C., wedding, funerals and other life occasions need to be small — as small as possible. Every gathering needs to be our own household only, and at maximum, our safe six.”

Henry said she’s concerned about new cases stemming from social gatherings, as transmission has spilled to other parts of the community, including workplaces, schools and health-care facilities.

Many of the cases are concentrated in the Lower Mainland, but transmission has spread as people travel across the province, she said. 

Contact tracers have found some people are not sticking to COVID-19 safety plans for social events.

“We all, as social creatures, need to come together. We want to be with the people we love for these celebrations,” Henry acknowledged.

“It is very hard to keep to those important limits that help prevent transmission of this virus.”

Henry said people should consider very small civil ceremonies for weddings, and save the party for next year. 

There are 1,920 active cases in the province as of Thursday, with 4,425 people in self-isolation due to COVID-19 exposure. 

The death toll remains unchanged at 256. Seventy-one people are in hospital, with 24 in intensive care. 

The province announced Wednesday the first COVID-19 outbreak in the B.C. school system at École de l’Anse-au-sable in Kelowna. Over 160 people associated with the school are in self-isolation.

Henry said public health teams have now identified five cases at the school. 

“While it is obviously not what any of us want to see, it is not unexpected as we know COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities,” she said.

Henry said health officials are containing the spread to the involved cohort. She said the school is working with the families to make sure they can still continue with lessons. 

There have been a total 213 exposure events in B.C. schools, Henry said. 

Public health teams have found six clusters, where more than one person in the school has been exposed.