B.C. lifts mask mandate for nearly all indoor public spaces
CTV
British Columbia is marking a major milestone in the return to pre-pandemic normalcy in the province, after years of COVID-19 restrictions.
British Columbia is marking a major milestone in the return to pre-pandemic normalcy in the province, after years of COVID-19 restrictions.
B.C. health officials lifted the mask mandate again Friday, as a result of declining infections and hospitalizations.
Face coverings will no longer be required in a broad range of indoor environments, but are still being recommended in some places.
“I'll continue to wear my mask if I'm on public transit and I would encourage others to do so too. We know it protects us, but it's also a sign of respect of protection for others,” said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry in a press conference Thursday.
Henry says it’s still best to wear a mask in spaces where it’s difficult to distance from others.
“It's a matter of time and space, and how close we are to people," Henry said. "So let's continue to be respectful, recognize that some people will need to continue to wear masks, and it will be important for them, and that we should keep a respectful distance for people so that we're not crowding them."
Masks will not be required on public transit or BC Ferries, but TransLink is still requiring them on HandyDART for now.
