As COVID-19 cases continue to remain high, B.C. health officials are reminding people to be vigilant in the common areas at work like the lunch room and in the corridors.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry is asking workplaces to review their COVID safety plans and make changes if needed.

“We have seen clusters of cases in workplaces that range from car dealerships, construction sites, lot of light industrial places where people may be in close contact with each other,” she said. “We’ve had another poultry plant where things had slipped and there were quite a large number of people who were infected.”

She noted that many of those cases are linked to social gatherings.

“There’s been quite lot from places you wouldn’t expect and it has been a spill-on effect from many of the social gatherings, where there was transmission and then somebody went into work or there was a transmission event at spin class for example that somebody was at and then went into work and then spread it between people in the workplace,” Henry added.

Henry says health officials are not seeing much COVID-19 transmission in workplaces like offices and stores where customers interact with employees.

“So people can feel safe going into a retail space or an office to get services,” she added. “We have not seen worker to public transmission very frequently but we sometimes forget that we need to take precautions with those who are outside our household in our work environment as well.”

The province brought in added restrictions on social gatherings, events, and travel until at least Dec. 7, at which point it could be extended if the situation hasn’t improved. It also mandated masks in indoor public places with a $230 fine for people who refuse to wear a mask where required.

“Instead of thinking about how can I find my way around this, think about your way to stop the spread,” Henry said last week. “What can I do today to make a difference? And remember, we all need to show compassion and understanding and do our part.”

For the latest on the restrictions, go here.