Interior Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer says it might be okay for someone with no COVID-19 symptoms who is living alone to visit another person who also lives alone.

Dr. Sue Pollock made those comments during a virtual town hall held last night.

“And I’d still recommend that they maintain their six feet or two metre distance if they are together and that they are washing their hands and following all those good practices and not getting together if they are ill or have respiratory symptoms,” Pollock said.

Asked by NL News for clarification, Interior Health, in a statement, says it still recommends avoiding contact with people not in your household. However, the Health Authority noted that if you do choose to visit someone in a small group to stay outdoors as it will reduce the risk of the virus being brought into your house.

“Recognizing the importance of the social connection and for people who are living alone that they might need that social connection, I think that is something that they can certainly explore doing, but they need to be doing that they weren’t socially congregating with other people,” Pollock said on Thursday.

She says people have been coming up with creative ways to stay connected with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve heard of families who dedicate themselves to each other with a promise that they won’t have contact with anybody else, but they want to get together, just those two families, and have the kids play together,” Pollock said.

Following her comments Thursday, BC Liberal Health Critic Norm Letnick who was moderating the town hall quipped, “I think you just made lot of people very happy with that answer.”

“I think so too,” said Katrine Conroy, the NDP MLA for Kootenay West.

The province has restricted all gatherings to under 50 people, with Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and Health Minister Adrian Dix urging people, on several occasions, to stay connected virtually with friends and families.