COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Showing the BC Vaccine Card proof of vaccination to access non-essential events, services and businesses will no longer be required.
- Proof of vaccination will no longer be required to access Meadow Park Sports Centre.
The remainder of the Workplace Safety Order will be lifted, which means businesses will transition back to communicable disease plans to reduce risk of all communicable disease.

Individual businesses and event organizers can choose to continue to require the BC Vaccine Card proof and masks on their premises. Please be respectful of businesses and individuals that choose to continue to do so.

Testing: What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?

STAY HOME

Even if you only have mild symptoms, stay home and away from others. The Omicron variant can feel exactly like a regular cold, sore throat, or headache.
Don’t go up the mountain to ski or ride. The snow will still be there when your symptoms go away.

GET TESTED IF YOU HAVE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS (ie shortness of breath), OR IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19

Call the COVID-19 testing line at 604-966-1428 to book an appointment for a regular PCR COVID test. *Please note: Due to high call volume, it may take a few hours for your call to be returned. Healthcare workers are working diligently to respond to the high demand and will return all calls as soon as possible.

DO NOT GET TESTED IF YOU HAVE HAD TWO DOSES OF A COVID-19 VACCINE AND MILD SYMPTOMS

In order to preserve testing capacity for those at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19 the Sea to Sky Division of Family Practice, which manages COVID-19 testing in Whistler, is asking anyone who has two vaccine doses and mild symptoms to not get tested and instead, stay home for five days or until your symptoms go away, whichever is longer. After this, you should continue to wear a mask at all times for an additional 5 days.

DO NOT GET TESTED IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS

Rapid tests from the Sea to Sky Division of Family Practice are not available to people who do not have any symptoms and they are not valid for travel.
Please do not request a rapid test because you want to “make sure” you don’t have COVID-19 before a weekend getaway with friends or a family gathering. The test does not work that way and cannot be used as a “green light” to say you don’t have COVID. The test detects COVID antigen in your nose. You can have an early infection and still test negative.

Visit www.whistlermedicalclinic.com for more information about COVID-19 testing in Whistler.

Find additional medical support in Whistler at https://divisionsbc.ca/sea-sky

Public rapid antigen test program

Recently, the province has launched a new program to distribute rapid antigen test kits to members of the public through community pharmacies.

Those who are eligible and have a Personal Health Number are allocated one kit every 28 days for free. Note, rapid antigen tests are most effective in detecting COVID-19 among those with symptoms. They are also not suitable for international travel requirements.

For further information about this program, including current eligibility, visit B.C. Ministry of Health's website

COVID-19 vaccination clinics

For information on the COVID-19 immunization program and to find the nearest clinic, visit vch.ca/vaccine.

Dose 1 and Dose 2

Drop-ins are welcome for dose 1 or dose 2 at all VCH COVID-19 vaccination clinics on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on your eligibility and vaccine availability. People aged 12+ are eligible to be vaccinated and you are eligible for a second dose 56 days after your first dose.

Vaccination for children ages 5 to 11

All children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 pediatric vaccine. B.C. parents and guardians are encouraged to register their children to get vaccinated and book their appointment as soon as they are invited.

Booster doses

Everyone aged 18 and older who received dose 1 and 2, and who wants a booster, will receive an invitation to book a booster appointment about 6 months after their dose 2 vaccination. Pregnant people 18 years and older can get a booster dose 8 weeks after their second dose. You must make an appointment for a booster dose. For information on booster doses, visit the BCCDC website.

Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine

There is now a limited supply of Janssen vaccine in British Columbia. This is a single-dose vaccine; one dose qualifies the recipient as fully vaccinated under all Provincial Health Officer’s orders that require vaccination, including for employment or for the BC Vaccine Card.

If this is the vaccine you want, please call 1-833-838-2323 and inform the agent that your preference is to receive the Janssen vaccine and you can be added to a waitlist for this vaccine.

Stay informed

Visit whistler.ca for the latest news from the Resort Municipality of Whistler including advisories and notifications or follow the RMOW on social media. View the channel directory at whistler.ca/GetInvolved.

Social services

Whistler Community Services Society is able to provide assistance to anyone in our community struggling with proper self isolation. Whether you need food, hygiene products, financial assistance and connectivity- support is available.

Book an appointment with an outreach worker at mywcss.org/contact-outreach/.

There are a variety of programs and resources available to support the health and wellbeing of the Whistler community throughout the COVID-19 situation. For more information about local, provincial and federal resources, visit the Community health and social services page.

Whistler Alert

Whistler Alert is Whistler’s emergency notification system. It is used only during emergencies where there is an immediate threat to lives or property. For example: an evacuation alert or order, shelter in place order or boil water notice.

RMOW operations and facilities

The Resort Municipality of Whistler is committed to protecting the health and safety of its residents, visitors and staff. The Public Health Office order requiring businesses to have COVID-19 Safety Plans expired on April 8, 2022. WorkSafeBC is supporting employers to transition from safety plans to communicable disease prevention to manage the risk of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases in the workplace.

Facility-specific procedures have also been introduced to ensure safe operations as RMOW programs and services resume. Learn more.

It is important to note that the RMOW takes direction from Vancouver Coastal Health when it comes to decisions on public health issues. They are the lead agency on all public health matters in Whistler and are responsible for ensuring the health and safety and providing direction to the community if there were to be an outbreak. VCH works in concert with the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Public Health Agency of Canada and is the best organization to respond to questions about efforts to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Whistler Recovery Working Group

Two working groups comprised of community-wide representatives were formed in 2020 to coordinate Whistler's COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Taking key information from community input as well as sector groups, the Whistler Recovery Working Group and the Social Services Working Group are helping to identify key short term actions for the municipality and other organizations toward pandemic recovery. Learn more.

RMOW Council presentations

April 21: Emergency Operations Centre update
April 7: Emergency Operations Centre update

News Releases

All RMOW News Releases

2021

2020

December 22: Feed the Need supports local food banks
November 27: BC Transit mandatory face covering policy update
November 20: New provincial measures to help slow spread of COVID-19
November 10: Whistler Mayor appeals to community to help keep Whistler open
October 28: Whistler Public Library welcomes the community with Express Visits
September 2: As long weekend approaches, RMOW reminds COVID-19 fines are possible
August 18: BC Transit to hand out face coverings in Whistler
August 14: What to know before heading to Whistler
August 6: BC Transit to mandate use of face coverings
August 6: Meadow Park Sports Centre reactivates additional programs and facilities
July 30: Whistler wants to remind visitors "COVID-19 is not on vacation"
July 9: RMOW moves to contactless Kids on the Go registration for Fall 2020
July 8: Community Conversations to bring Whistler together to discuss COVID-19 experiences
June 12: RMOW Council approves streamlined approval process for temporary patios
June 9: Summer transportation operations modified due to COVID-19
May 29: Municipal hall to re-open for customer service June 1
May 28: Whistler Public Library launches Library to Go program
May 28: Temporary patio area expansions for Whistler food and beverage establishments
May 19: Public reminded to make smart choices when outside in Whistler's opened parks and trails
May 7: Council approves major changes to 2020 municipal budget
April 28: COVID-19 pandemic prompts budget review
April 20: Squamish-Lillooet Regional District communities launch "Feed the Need" program to support local food banks
April 8: Resort Municipality of Whistler outlines physical distancing expectations for Easter long weekend
April 8: Communities in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District ask visitors not to come
April 3: Resort partners collaborate to relocate Whistler Food Bank.
April 2: Resort Municipality moves more services online
March 26: COVID-19 response update
March 22, 2020: RMOW closing all playgrounds, skate park, tennis and basketball courts and gathering areas in parks
March 19: Resort Municipality of Whistler News Release- COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disease in Whistler
March 19: Whistler Today Newsletter on COVID-19 response in Whistler
March 17:In response to the BC Ministry of Education's decision to indefinitely suspend all public schools until further notice, the RMOW will continue to offer full-day Kids on the Go programming for the children of parents who are required to attend their workplace to provide essential community services.
March 16: RMOW closing all non-essential facilities and programs

Mayor’s messages

View all video updates from Mayor Jack Crompton

Community COVID-19 Information Session

On January 21, 2021, Mayor Crompton and Whistler Council joined doctors from the Whistler Health Care Centre and community leaders to share updates about the latest COVID-19 situation in Whistler and the steps being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Questions and answers from the session is posted below. Please note, this document will be updated as we receive responses from our panelists. If you were not able to attend the session, please email your questions to communications@whistler.ca.

Session panelists included:

Dr. John Harding, Medical Health Officer- Sea to Sky, Vancouver Coastal Health
Dr. Olivia Bailey and Dr. Karin Kausky, Whistler Health Care Centre
Lisa McCullough, Superintendent School District 48 (Sea to Sky)
Jackie Dickinson, Executive Director, Whistler Community Services Society
Geoff Buchheister, Chief Operating Officer, Whistler Blackcomb
Virginia Cullen, Chief Administrative Officer, Resort Municipality of Whistler
Barrett Fisher, President and CEO, Tourism Whistler
Melissa Pace, CEO Whistler Chamber of Commerce

Business guidelines for a safe restart

All B.C. businesses are required to have a COVID-19 safety plan and will gradually transition to new communicable disease plans. The guidelines for these plans were released by WorkSafeBC on June 28, 2021. These guidelines were developed in consultation with public health and businesses and will continue to be supported by WorkSafeBC and the PHO as they transition during Step 3 of BC's restart plan. For what you need to know to keep employees, the community and visitors safe, visit the whistler.ca/saferestart page.

Public health

If you are concerned about COVID-19 symptoms, do not go to the Whistler Medical Centre. Call 8-1-1 and follow the directions you are given.

VCH advises the most important steps residents and visitors can take to protect themselves and our community from COVID-19 are:

Wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.
Stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms.
Limit contact with people who appear to be ill.

Additional information is available at:

Vancouver Coastal Health: www.vch.ca
BC Centre for Disease Control: www.bccdc.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada: www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html

Emergency planning

Emergency planning is core to the work a municipality does to ensure we can continue to provide services to the community, whether planning for a pandemic, flood or wildfire. We are required by provincial legislation to have a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan in place that outlines how we would continue essential municipal services if facing a hazard in the community. We encourage all residents to visit whistler.ca/emergency to find out how to prepare for any emergency that may affect our community.