On Thursday, March 10, the BC Government announced the lifting of the Mask Mandate for businesses, events and services.
There are exceptions. Masks will still be required to enter the clinic. And for people going on spring break, masks and passports will still be required to fly as well as entering an airport, which is federally mandated.
At the schools, masks will no longer be required when school returns after spring break.
There are still visitor limitations at long-term resident care homes and seniors’ assisted living facilities, but those will be lifted on March 18.
Proof of vaccination is still required to get into the pool and the gym, as well as restaurants, but those restrictions will be lifted on April 8.
And, while businesses and event organizers can choose to continue requiring proof of vaccination for entry, none of the businesses we talked to will require masks, with the exception of the pharmacy, and then the mask will only be required if a patient receiving direct care (receiving an immunization, for example). “If you don’t have a mask and wish to wear one, we will provide it for you,” says Charissa Tonnessen, owner. Staff there will continue to wear their masks, because they are frequently dealing with people with health issues.
Federal proof of vaccination is still required for federally regulated travel, like air travel
Businesses will no longer need a Covid safety plan, however they still must follow communicable disease guidance from WorkSafeBC.
Over at Home Hardware, Owner Dean Turner says some people are still wearing masks when they come in. “It’s maybe 15, 20 percent,” he says. “They may be immunocompromised, or have some other health issue.”
And, while he’s leaving the choice to wear a mask or not to each employee, he says he’s still wearing his mask for now
“It’s one thing for a people to come in and get one or two things and then go home,” he says, “I’m dealing with different customers all day. I feel better with it, because sometimes the bubble gets a little small.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
