<div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><p style="margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><span style="color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:arial,sans-serif"></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,sans-serif"></span>
</p><div class="gmail-bcma-col gmail-col-12 gmail-mb-4 gmail-col-lg-12 gmail-b--purple-10"><h4 class="gmail-pt-3 gmail-mb-4">On
December 21 the Province of BC announced new public health orders. The
BC Museums Association would like to highlight the following orders that
most impact museums:</h4>
</div><div class="gmail-bcma-col gmail-col-12 gmail-mb-4 gmail-b--purple-10"><p class="gmail-mb-3"><em><a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions">A full list of PHOs can be found here</a>.</em></p>
<p class="gmail-mb-3"><strong>As of December 22, 2021</strong></p>
<ul><li style="font-weight:400"><a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions#events-venues"><span style="font-weight:400">Indoor events at venues</span></a><span style="font-weight:400"> can only have 50% capacity, no matter the size. This includes events like concerts, sports or movies.</span>
<ul><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">All spectators must be seated at:</span>
<ul><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Sports events, concerts, theatre, dance and symphony performances</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Lectures, presentations and workshops</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Sponsored and ticketed events</span></li></ul>
</li></ul>
</li><li style="font-weight:400"><a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions#restaurants-bars"><span style="font-weight:400">Restaurants, cafes and pubs</span></a><span style="font-weight:400"> can have a maximum of 6 people at each table.</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Fairs, festivals and trade shows can return to normal operations with a communicable disease plan.</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">A
workplace that has workers testing positive for COVID-19 and public
health confirming transmission has occurred in the work environment may
be ordered to close for a minimum of 10 days (refer to this </span><a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/covid-19-pho-delegation-workplace-closures.pdf"><span style="font-weight:400">PDF on workplace closures</span></a><span style="font-weight:400">).</span></li></ul>
</div><div class="gmail-bcma-col gmail-col-12 gmail-mb-4 gmail-b--purple-10"><p class="gmail-mb-3"><span style="font-weight:400">In addition to the PHOs, the Province recommends the following additional precautions:</span></p>
<ul><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Keep gatherings small and only with those you know are fully vaccinated</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Reduce social interactions</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Ensure proper ventilation indoors by opening windows</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Avoid all travel if you’re not fully vaccinated</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Follow the current federal travel advisory</span></li><li style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-weight:400">Stay home if you feel sick<br><br></span></li></ul>
</div><div class="gmail-bcma-col gmail-col-12 gmail-mb-4 gmail-b--purple-10"><h3 class="gmail-pt-3 gmail-mb-4"><b>A Note on the Omicron Variant</b></h3>
<p class="gmail-mb-3"><span style="font-weight:400">Due to the higher rate
of transmission of the Omicron variant, we encourage members to reflect
on their current safety protocols and review current best practices and
safety recommendations. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-mb-3"><b>N95/KN95 Masks</b></p>
<p class="gmail-mb-3"><span style="font-weight:400">Increasingly, </span><a href="https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/experts-recommend-mask-upgrades-due-to-omicron-1.5715911"><span style="font-weight:400">experts are recommending</span></a><span style="font-weight:400">
shifting away from cloth masks to masks that provide a higher standard
of protection, like N95 or KN95 masks. This category of mask can provide
better protection due to a more secure fit, greater standardization of
material, and when used correctly, can filter up to 95% of particulate
matter.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-mb-3"><span style="font-weight:400">Due to increased demand
for N95 masks and numerous counterfeits being sold online, it can be
challenging to purchase N95 or KN95 masks at this moment, but if you are
able to source them, we recommend providing any public-facing staff or
volunteers with higher quality masks.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-mb-3"><span style="font-weight:400">If you are attempting to source N95 masks online, the CDC offers guidelines on identifying counterfeit N95 masks: </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/counterfeitResp.html"><span style="font-weight:400">https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/counterfeitResp.html<br></span></a></p><p class="gmail-mb-3">If you want to learn more about the difference between
<span style="font-weight:400">N95 and KN95 masks, you may find this article helpful:</span>
<a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a35383193/n95-vs-kn95-mask-differences/">https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a35383193/n95-vs-kn95-mask-differences/</a></p><p class="gmail-mb-3"><b><br>For the full update, please visit the BCMA Website: <a href="https://museum.bc.ca/omicronupdate/">https://museum.bc.ca/omicronupdate/</a></b></p>
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