Tourism Fernie Home Page

Supporting & Informing Local

Like many places, Fernie has endured many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This website was created to support the community with important information. Please scroll for a variety of details.

For traveller updates please visit our local Fernie COVID-19 travel page

What are the current rules by government?

In effort to keep everyone from getting COVID or transmitting it others and those more vulnerable, the BC Government has specific restrictions and legally enforceable orders in place.

Full vaccination is required for many indoor activities including dining. Read more.

Full vaccination is required to ski/board at Fernie Alpine Resort, Island Lake Catskiing and FWA Catskiing.

Masks are required in all public indoor spaces for ages 5 & up. Organized gathering restrictions are also in place. Read more.

VIEW more details on BC COVID-19 Response & Orders

For local travel & COVID updates also visit our local Fernie COVID-19 travel page.

Vaccination - #Journey2Immunity

The fastest way to easing restrictions and either not get sick or to prevent more serious illness, is to get vaccinated.

Vaccines are effective and safe and available to anyone Age 5 and up. Getting vaccinated is easy:

  • Call 1-833-838-2323 or go online at www.GetVaccinated.gov.bc.ca to book a vaccination appointment.
  • The vaccination process will take up to 30 minutes, including a 15 minute waiting time after your shot for monitoring.  Doctor's and nurses are on site.

In Fernie to-date the vaccine administered has been the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.  It can take 7-14 days to take effect. Two shots are required to be fully vaccinated.  A minimum of 28 days is required between the two shots.

This is Bill

Bill is COVID-19 Positive.

Bill knows he needs to self-isolate for 14 days.

Bill does not go outside or to the grocery store. He has friends or calls for support to bring him groceries and other items.

Bill knows this is only for a short period and will protect others from getting COVID-19.

Bill knows he can apply for federal support to help cover some of his expenses while not being able to work.

Bill is smart and respectful of the community.

Be like Bill.

How to talk to your household about following health orders

Housemates and family members can have different levels of comfort and understanding with COVID and the restrictions.  Take the time to sit down together and talk about the importance of respecting each other and the importance of following and understanding local health orders.

Here are some articles to help the conversation, note, most of these are from outside of BC so be sure to know the local BC COVID Restrictions & Orders:

Local Info & Support Programs

If you're feeling unwell or think you've been in close contact with someone who is call 811 for advice.  Do not go to work without also talking to your employer.

Up to $1,000 income while you're isolating. The Canadian Recovery Sickness Benefit gives income support to individuals who can't work because they're sick or self-isolating due to COVID-19.

Local testing for COVID-19 can be booked online or call 1-877-740-7747.  If you can't drive to the testing site in Sparwood then call 250-423-8581.

Community, Resident & Business Support & Resources are available, view details or contact the Fernie Chamber of Commerce.

Elk Valley COVID Support Team provides grocery delivery to anyone in self-isolation / quarantine. Learn more.

Fernie Fresh Food Share is a program within The Salvation Army redirecting perfectly good food that is headed to the landfill to better end users. Learn more on their Facebook page.  The Fernie Food Bank can be reached at 250-423-4668.

East Kootenay Crisis Line volunteers are available to listen, help problem solve, and help make connections to community resources in the East Kootenay region. To reach them call 1-888-353-2273.

When & How to Self-Isolate

When you self-isolate, stay home and keep away from others to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

When do you have to self-isolate?

  • If you have COVID-19
  • If you have been told to self-isolate by health authorities due to being in close contact with a person with COVID-19
  • If you live in the same household as someone that has COVID-19
  • Potentially upon returning from international travel, look up current travel notices/regulations.

How long do you have to self-isolate?

How do you self-isolate?

If you are in self-isolation and require any type of assistance please call 1-833-469-9803 and select EAST KOOTENAY for a Pandemic Health Coordinator.

Limiting Community Spread - Contact Tracing

Contact tracing is an important tool to more quickly prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

If you are a contact of a confirmed case (meaning you've been around someone that tested positive), a member of the public health team will contact you to let you know you may have been exposed.  If you have symptoms, you need to get tested.

If you do not have symptoms but have been in close contact (what does close contact mean?), you will be asked to self-isolate so that if you develop COVID-19, you won’t spread it to others in the community. Either way you should let others you have been in close contact with know of your situation so they can make safe decisions too.

Learn More from BC Centre for Disease Control

Get outside for your health and sanity!

Nothing's better for your well-being than getting outside!

Isn't this the main reason we're all in Fernie?

Looking for Things To Do?

Check out all local Fernie trail maps!

Events are returning to Fernie too!

 

Fernie Strong

Stronger Together