B.C. not bringing back mask mandate, despite growing calls for precautions
Health officials are not currently considering a return to province-wide mask mandates in British Columbia, despite growing calls for precautions over the fall and winter.
With three notable respiratory viruses circulating in the province, the Ministry of Health continues to stress the importance of staying home while sick – but only recommends mask-wearing for situations in which it is "essential" to be in close contact with others while symptomatic.
"With regards to public health measures, we are not looking at reintroducing mask mandates at this time," the ministry said in an email statement Tuesday.
"Through COVID-19 infection and vaccination, we have achieved a very high level of population immunity and the number of people at risk for serious outcomes from COVID-19 has dropped significantly."
Even among elderly residents living in long-term care facilities, officials said those vaccinated against COVID-19 mostly only experience "mild symptoms."
Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry are scheduled to provide an update on the spread of COVID-19, influenza and RSV in B.C. at a news conference Wednesday morning. CTV News will be streaming the event live beginning at 11 a.m.
Earlier this week, increasing transmission of those three viruses led Ontario's top doctor to "strongly" recommend the public begin wearing masks indoors once more.
While the recommendation goes further than the messaging in B.C., Ontario also stopped short of issuing a proper mandate – though advocates for actual restrictions argue there's no reason other jurisdictions need to follow that province's example.
"The fact that Ontario did not institute a mask mandate despite the disaster playing out in paediatric hospitals should not sway anyone," said Lyne Filiatrault, a former emergency department doctor and member of Protect our Province B.C. "True leadership is not about following, it's about doing what's right."
Filiatrault's group along with Safe Schools Coalition B.C., B.C. School COVID tracker and Masks 4 East Van have called on incoming premier David Eby, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside to reinstate an indoor mask mandate across the province, pointing to "multiple studies" that have found mask-wearing results in less illness.
B.C. officials have not disputed that, calling masks, hand-washing and other "respiratory etiquette" tools that can reduce the risk of transmission.
They also acknowledged there has been an increase in hospitalizations, including among children, but said the situation has not become so dire as to force the government to postpone non-urgent surgeries. As of Monday, there was still about 24 per cent capacity in the province's children's high-acuity and pediatric ICU beds, according to the ministry.
"The situation in Ontario right now is more serious compared to B.C.," officials said.
"As we move into the late fall and winter, our teams continue to carefully monitor hospitalizations, critical care deaths, outbreaks and clusters in community settings and long-term care."
The Ministry of Health also stressed that vaccination is the primary means of reducing the risk of managing COVID-19 long-term – including in children, who are far less likely to have received even a single shot compared to B.C.'s adult population.
Only about half of children between the ages of five and 11 have had one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, compared to 94 per cent of young adults.
"Getting children vaccinated is an important layer of protection against disease, as the benefits of vaccines greatly outweigh the risks," the Ministry of Health said. "Parents and guardians should talk with their child’s family doctor, nurse practitioner, local public health nurses, or their pediatricians to get more information so they can make the best decision for their child."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Ontario reveals highest public sector salaries in sunshine list
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.