New COVID-19 restrictions will take into effect Monday as B.C. tries to slow the spread.

The new rise in cases is being driven by the new Omicron variant, according to health officials. They say the new restrictions will be in effect until at least Jan. 31 next year.

New restrictions include:

• Limiting indoor, personal gatherings, including rental vacation properties to the household/residents plus 10 individuals. Or one additional household maximum if all are aged 12 and older and are fully vaccinated.
• Requiring the vaccine card for organized events of all sizes and the QR code is scanned.
• Seating requirements and restricting movement between tables at food and liquor-serving premises.
• Venues of 1,000 or more will be limited to 50 per cent capacity.
• Pausing sports tournaments while the order is in effect
• Restricting all organized New Years' Eve events to seated-only with no mingling or dancing.

The province says B.C.’s case rate has almost doubled in the last week, and 135 cases of the omicron variant have been identified.

Minister of Health Adrian Dix says the new restrictions are about slowing transmission down as cases are expected to rise.

“These measures will help us to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the ones we care about,” said Dix. “Slowing the spread and keeping each other safe is a cause in which we are all connected.”

Despite the case rise – particularly in young people – Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a press conference Friday that vaccination has kept Omicron hospital visits low.

“They’re not having severe illness, it’s mostly mild illness and that is for a couple of reasons,” said Henry. “One, because people are younger right now, and also because we have very high vaccination rates.”

Henry said slowing down the rate will help not overload the health care system, asking that unvaccinated people get vaccinated.

She said the province has gone through a lot over the last year, and being with close family and friends is important this time of year.

READ MORE: Feds bringing back pre-arrival testing for all travellers, dropping ban on African countries

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First Nations and community groups have received funding from a forestry company to provide gifts and other needs in the holidays.

Western Forest Products announced a total of $100,000 would be provided to First Nations and partners on the Island, Sunshine Coast and Washington State.

The Powell River Food Bank has received funding from the forestry organization, and manager Savanna Dee says it is needed as demand has increased this year.

“With these unprecedented times of this pandemic, help is needed more than ever at the food bank”, said Dee. “Christmas is a crucial time of year as we struggle with the increased demand and we really appreciate Western Forest Products for helping us ‘Feed Our Community’.”

Other organizations along the North Island and Campbell River include:

• Harvest Food Bank (Regional District of Mount Waddington, Alert Bay, Coal Harbour, Holberg, Winter Harbour, Port
• Alice, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Sointula, Woss)
• Village of Port Alice
• Campbell River Food Bank
• Angel Tree Society (Sayward, Campbell River)
• Gold River Food Network

Funding is also being given out to organizations on the mid and south Island including the Cowichan Valley Basket Society (CVBS). The organization says they will use the funding for the community soup kitchen and food bank.

"Donations to the CVBS allow us to continue to work towards alleviating hunger within the Cowichan Valley. Canadian food banks will typically distribute between $5 and $9 of food for every $1 received in donations, over the course of a year,” said Lee Smith, Board of Directors chairperson, CVBS.

“As we approach Christmas 2021, we are seeing the demand for our services steadily rising, as exacerbated by recent flooding events. We are very grateful to Western Forest Products for their generous and on-going support."

zOther organizations on the Island receiving funding include:

• Ladysmith Rescue Centre Association
• Great Nanaimo Toy Drive
• Chemainus Harvest House Society food bank
• Salvation Army Alberni Valley
• Farmlands Trust Society (Saanichton and Greater Victoria

Western Forest Products says the funding varies from organization to organization based on community size and/or needs.

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B.C Ferries crews are gearing up for the holiday season.

More than 135 extra sailings have been added to accommodate the extra traffic expected over the next few days.

Spokesperson Deborah Marshall says tomorrow is expected to be the busiest travel day of the holiday period.

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Marshall notes the 26th, 27th, and 28th are also expected to be busy, with the 27th being the busiest day after Christmas.

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R-C-M-P and police services will be out on area highways tonight as part of the Light Up the Night Campaign.

Constable Scott Seutter says it's a campaign that is run every year as the holiday season begins.

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Police will be conducting enforcement campaigns on roads from Victoria to Port Hardy.

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Canada Post has hired over 2500 seasonal workers and will rent up to 900 vehicles across the country to accommodate the busy holiday season.

Starting with Cyber Monday, Canada Post expects to deliver one million or more packages almost every day until Christmas Eve.

Spokesperson Alice Lafferty says everything will be running at full speed until Christmas

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If you're sending a parcel within Canada over the holiday season, Lafferty says it's best to send it before December 12th to ensure a delivery before Christmas. But, if you run last minute, you can send it priority anytime before December 22nd.

The post Canada Post boosts employee numbers for holiday deliveries appeared first on My Campbell River Now.

The Knights of Columbus is encouraging locals to make a hamper this Holiday season.

The annual Hamper Fund encourages residents to build small hampers comprised of food, money and toys and donate them, so they can be distributed to struggling families.

Spokesperson Kevin Gearey says the financial contributions go further than many people think.

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Hampers and donations will be accepted until December 16th.

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