COVID-19 in B.C.: Mask mandate for indoor public settings now in place
British Columbia’s public health order requiring masks in most indoor public settings came into effect Wednesday, in an effort to combat the Delta variant and a fourth wave of COVID-19.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry made the surprise announcement Tuesday, citing the surge in new infections and hospitalizations.
“The increasing levels of transmission, particularly among unvaccinated people as we've talked about and in part, of course due to the increased transmissibility of the variant that we're seeing circulating,” said Henry.
Masks must be worn by anyone 12 and older in most indoor public settings.
This includes shopping centres, coffee shops, retail and grocery stores, community and recreation centres and restaurants and bars - unless you are seated at your table.
It also applies to public transit, taxi and ride-sharing vehicles, common areas of fitness centres, and areas of office buildings where services are provided to the public.
B.C. introduced its previous mask mandate in November 2020 and didn't lift it until July 1.
At that time, B.C.’s seven-day average case count was 48; it’s now 608.
Some members of the independent BC COVID-19 Modelling Group pushed to keep the mask requirement all along.
"There's evidence growing globally that people that are vaccinated can still get the virus and often not even know it they can be asymptomatic and pass along the virus,” said Dr. Sarah Otto, a zoology professor at the University of British Columbia.
People who can't wear a mask or put one on without the assistance of others are exempt from the mask mandate. Masks may be taken off temporarily for identification, to eat or drink at dining locations or when participating in a physical activity.
They are encouraged for kids under 12, but not recommended for children under the age of two.
Henry says the order will be reassessed in mid-October, when the province fully implements its vaccine passport program that was announced on Monday.
As of Tuesday 83.3 per cent of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 75.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.
“We know that even a 10 per cent increase per age group makes a big difference in blunting the impact of even the Delta variant that we're seeing being transmitted right now,” said Dr. Henry.
B.C. was scheduled to move into the next phase of our restart plan on Sept. 7, health officials say that’s highly unlikely now.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
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.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers 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.
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.
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.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
'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.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.