Stay home, agencies plea, on May long weekend
The Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Armed Forces, Canada Border Services Agency, Indigenous Services Canada, Parks Canada, RCMP, Destination BC, the United States Coast Guard and more will be working together this long weekend and throughout the spring to make sure waterways are safe and that COVID-19 health guidelines are being met.
The guidelines include physical distancing and avoiding unnecessary trips if possible.
In a joint statement, the organizations listed above asked that recreational borders limit the time they spend in small communities, or avoid trips altogether.
On Wednesday, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said that anyone who is planning to go camping or visit a smaller B.C. community should prepare for the trip by bringing their own food and supplies, so that they can minimize contact with the community.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government says that it will be monitoring the Canada-U.S. border during the long weekend and throughout spring.
Border restrictions between the two countries are in place until at least May 21.
“Boaters travelling across international borders for non-essential purposes, including recreation and tourism, will be turned around,” said the federal government in its joint statement.
Any sailor who does enter Canada on an essential trip is being reminded that they must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
