Emergency dispatchers are begging people to stop calling 911 about BC’s new travel restrictions..“911 is for emergencies ONLY. Help us keep the emergency lines free for people who need help from police, fire and ambulance,” said E-Comm in a tweet..E-Comm is BC’s largest emergency communications centre, and began receiving calls shortly after the province’s minister of public safety announced an inter-provincial travel ban until May 25..“We are receiving calls on 911 from (people) asking (questions) about travel restrictions — remember: 911 is for emergencies ONLY,” read the E-Comm tweet..“HelpUsHelp keep emergency lines free for (people) who need help from police, fire or ambulance.”.The travel ban began Friday and prohibits British Columbians from travelling outside of their health region or risk a $575 fine..The province is working with local police agencies to set up check stops at each of the health regions and details of the check stops are expected to be released next week..Provincial health officials are still encouraging residents to stay in their local region, despite being able to travel within your health region without penalty..BC Ferries — which said it will not will not schedule extra sailings, a typical act during the May long weekend — now also bans leisure travel outside the Island Health region..Here’s a BC government list of what’s deemed essential travel:.• carrying out a work-related purpose, including volunteering;.• moving to a different principal residence or assisting a person to move;.• commercially transporting goods;.• receiving health-care services or social services or assisting someone to receive those services;.• attending court;.• complying with a court order;.• accessing child care;.• spending parenting time with a minor child;.• attending classes or receiving training at a post-secondary institution or school;.• responding to an emergency or a critical incident, including incidents that involve search and rescue operations;.• providing care or assistance to a person who requires care or assistance because of:.• a psychological, behavioural or health condition; or a physical, cognitive or mental impairment;.• visiting by an essential visitor as provided in the guidance of the Ministry of Health;.• attending a funeral service;.• travelling by residents of the local health areas of Bella Coola Valley or Central Coast to Port Hardy to obtain essential goods and supplies;.• travelling by residents of the local health area of Hope to Chilliwack to obtain essential goods and supplies;.• travelling by residents of the Nisga’a Health Authority region into the Northern-Interior Health Authority region; and/or returning to one’s own principal residence..Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..,.mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
Emergency dispatchers are begging people to stop calling 911 about BC’s new travel restrictions..“911 is for emergencies ONLY. Help us keep the emergency lines free for people who need help from police, fire and ambulance,” said E-Comm in a tweet..E-Comm is BC’s largest emergency communications centre, and began receiving calls shortly after the province’s minister of public safety announced an inter-provincial travel ban until May 25..“We are receiving calls on 911 from (people) asking (questions) about travel restrictions — remember: 911 is for emergencies ONLY,” read the E-Comm tweet..“HelpUsHelp keep emergency lines free for (people) who need help from police, fire or ambulance.”.The travel ban began Friday and prohibits British Columbians from travelling outside of their health region or risk a $575 fine..The province is working with local police agencies to set up check stops at each of the health regions and details of the check stops are expected to be released next week..Provincial health officials are still encouraging residents to stay in their local region, despite being able to travel within your health region without penalty..BC Ferries — which said it will not will not schedule extra sailings, a typical act during the May long weekend — now also bans leisure travel outside the Island Health region..Here’s a BC government list of what’s deemed essential travel:.• carrying out a work-related purpose, including volunteering;.• moving to a different principal residence or assisting a person to move;.• commercially transporting goods;.• receiving health-care services or social services or assisting someone to receive those services;.• attending court;.• complying with a court order;.• accessing child care;.• spending parenting time with a minor child;.• attending classes or receiving training at a post-secondary institution or school;.• responding to an emergency or a critical incident, including incidents that involve search and rescue operations;.• providing care or assistance to a person who requires care or assistance because of:.• a psychological, behavioural or health condition; or a physical, cognitive or mental impairment;.• visiting by an essential visitor as provided in the guidance of the Ministry of Health;.• attending a funeral service;.• travelling by residents of the local health areas of Bella Coola Valley or Central Coast to Port Hardy to obtain essential goods and supplies;.• travelling by residents of the local health area of Hope to Chilliwack to obtain essential goods and supplies;.• travelling by residents of the Nisga’a Health Authority region into the Northern-Interior Health Authority region; and/or returning to one’s own principal residence..Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..,.mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
