Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie has announced new protocols for communication and testing related to COVID-19 in provincial courthouses.

The new rules were issued on Jan. 21, and took effect immediately, after representatives of the three levels of the court and court services branch met with senior health officials.

There are five main components, featuring a public health guidance that鈥檚 publicly posted, and a created by the BC Centre for Disease Control. Each regional health authority is responsible for investigating COVID-19 related incidents at courthouses within their jurisdiction as well as 鈥渞esponse and timely communication鈥� with the courts, Court Services Branch and 鈥渨here appropriate鈥� the public.

鈥淚f there is to be group testing at a courthouse, notice will be communicated by the regional health authority to those court participants relevant to the investigation,鈥� the announcement reads. Moreover, there will be 鈥渢argeted access鈥� to COVID-19 testing related to 鈥渁nticipated or ongoing court proceedings where, for example, a court participant is experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms and testing is required to determine whether the court proceeding can continue as scheduled.鈥�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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