B.C.'s new COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings met with mixed reactions
New restrictions on in-person religious gatherings in B.C. have been met with mixed reactions from places of worship.
On Tuesday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced multiple new restrictions including the removal of an indoor mask mandate exemption.
Previously, those attending church services and other religious gatherings were exempt from provincial mask mandates, though they were still encouraged to wear face coverings.
However, with concerns caused by the new Omicron variant, Henry lifted the exemption.
"There'll be some tension,” said Mardi Dolfo-Smith, discipleship pastor at the North Shore Alliance Church.
"We understand why that’s a requirement but it will cause some hardship for some of our people who are adverse to wearing masks.”
On top of the mask mandate, worship services must now be limited to 50 per cent capacity, unless every participant is vaccinated.
Dolfo-Smith says they’ll go with the capacity limit option to ensure none of their members are left out.
"The people that have chosen not get vaccinated really need to be in the community, they need to meet with us, they need to know they're cared for and loved,” she said.
“Excluding them could be detrimental to the unity in our community."
Dolfo-Smith says they fear that the province will soon make full vaccination a requirement for everybody entering into places of worship.
“That would cause a lot of conflict in our community," she said.
However, at the Congregation Beth Israel Conservative Synagogue, that same concern is not shared.
"We have had a vaccine mandate in place for a number of months now,” said Rabbi Jonathan Infeld.
Infeld says their members were in support of the requirement, with little to no push back.
"People have been happy to show their vaccine passport or other proof that they're vaccinated, it's gone really well.”
No timetable was given on how long the new rules will remain in place.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canadian Blood Services issued an apology on Friday to the LGBTQ2S+ community for what it now admits was a harmful and discriminatory blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma.
BREAKING 'Just wait': Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city amid multiple reports
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.