BC’s Updated COVID-19 Protocols
Government of British Columbia/Flickr
On March 11, the provincial-wide mask mandate was lifted for the first time. This was due to the hospitalization rates trending downwards as the summer season approached; according to the BC Centre of Disease Control. Alongside the end of the mask mandate, vaccine passports are also no longer required for access to indoor events. The end to these restrictions does not mark the end of the pandemic, but rather a step forward towards a normal life. Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, has stated that “the risk is much lower, but not zero.”
These changes have brought new rules for British Columbians to adjust to. Masks are now optional for all indoor public gatherings; with wearing one being a personal preference. Businesses and organizations can choose whether masks are required on their grounds. Religious gatherings no longer require proof of vaccination by attendees. Employees no longer need to wear masks when working, as the Work Safety Order is not required anymore. The decision is now up to the employer. The Work Safety Order is a set of rules employers must follow when employing workers. It has constantly been updated ever since COVID started, due to the constant restrictions being implied on work settings. Public transit encourages masks but does not require them.
Vaccine passports are no longer needed for services, business, and non-essential events. It is important to note that individual businesses can still choose whether it’s mandated or not. The vaccine rate in B.C. for people who are 12 and older is 93.3 per cent according to the British Columbia Government. This number has yet to increase by a noticeable amount since 2022 started; roughly only 2 per cent.
Currently, staff and students in kindergarten to Grade 12 are not required to wear masks during school hours. The choice is now up to students and their comfort level around their peers. Some believe the mandate is needed for everyone’s safety, while others think all restrictions need to be lifted to progress past this pandemic. At Eric Hamber Secondary many students have mixed emotions on this topic.
While interviewing students at Eric Hamber Secondary, The Nest found many felt unsure about the mask mandate being lifted. Jasmine Chen (10) expressed that “the masks provided a layer of safety for me, and with them no longer being mandatory that safety insurance has been stripped from me.”
Others felt that the change was long-awaited. Kieran Rooke (9) told the Nest that “with indoor events such as concerts and sporting events opening; with masks being optional, I believe it is time for schools to follow suit. The people who have consistently followed the COVID restrictions for the past 2 years deserve to have this option.”
When asked about possible solutions Chen felt that “people should factor in other people’s health situations when choosing not to wear masks. Many immunocompromised people have a higher risk of being impacted by this sickness. An option would be to recommend students wear their masks when in close contact with others.”
Rooke suggests that “students should be cautious when around peers who may not be comfortable without face coverings. Since you never know someone’s situation.”