With Christmas exactly one week away – the Chief Medical Health Officer in Interior Health is asking people to not gather together with people outside their household this holiday season and to avoid non-essential travel.

Dr. Albert de Villiers says for the most part people are taking the restrictions that are in place until at least Jan. 8 to heart, but he notes there are some people who are choosing not to.

“There is the fear of COVID fatigue. We are getting tired of doing all of these things and not being able to see family,” he said. “But with a vaccine coming up and if we actually do what we are supposed to be doing now, I think we should be out of this, definitely by next year this time, but hopefully by the spring or the summer, it will be way better.”

He says while people have rights on what they can and can’t do, they also have responsibilities in society.

“There are lots of other things that society expects me to do; I need to wear a seat belt, it’s not an option. I need to wear pants when I’m in public, it’s not an option,” he added. “It’s true, it’s my body, but I’ve still got some responsibility to decide and to make sure we can keep everybody safe and healthy.”

de Villiers says to assume that everyone you come in contact with has COVID and he’s asking people to remain vigilant.

“If I can use a very bad example, its like in the old days when we were really pushing condom use. You should assume if you are having casual sex with somebody that you are actually doing what is appropriate wherever you go and not only when you think there’s an actual higher risk,” he added.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, too is urging people to stick to their household bubbles this holiday season as a way to prevent cases from spiking in January. She says while a vaccine will protect people from COVID-19, it is not here yet, it will also take time to immunize everyone so things can go back to normal.

“Pick ways of being together that protect people particularly if its an older person,” she said. “You know, we need to take those measures to protect our seniors right now so that they will be here with us when we have Christmas in July.”

The BC Government has also brought in new enforcement measures as part of a crackdown on those who refuse to follow COVID-19 restrictions – one day after the Premier promised tougher measures.