B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry spent some time during her latest COVID-19 briefing today clarifying the latest order on youth and adult sports while defending the decisions yesterday to impose new restrictions.

“Right now, what we are seeing is about 10 to 15 per cent of all cases is coming from physical fitness and sports activities,” Henry noted.

The new restrictions put a ban on all adult indoor and outdoor sports like hockey, curling, and volleyball among others.

Henry says the province is trying to target activities that have led to transmission in the communities. Yesterday, she said an old timers hockey team from the Interior went to Alberta and came back with COVID which has now spread in their community, but she did not say where they were from.

When asked today why youth sports can still proceed on a modified basis, Henry noted the evidence had shown that adults tend to socialize before and after the games, which is when the virus spreads.

“What we are seeing is that it’s not so much about transmission while the sports are being played, it’s the before and the after in the locker rooms it’s the going for a coffee or a beer after the game,” she said.

There has also been some confusion on what sports are included in the new Provincial Health Order, but Dr. Henry is asking people to not look for a way around the restrictions.

“I just ask people to bear with me and understand the intent of the orders. The intent is to try and reduce opportunities for the virus to spread and in those areas where we have seen higher risk right now,” she said.

Youth sports for people under the age of 18 have been moved from Phase 3 of the Via Sport’s guidelines to Phase 2 – which only allows skills and drill sessions to go ahead but no games.

“Young people have really taken the brunt of some of these changes. I know you are adaptable, and you are superheroes in my mind. I know you can make this work,” Henry said.