B.C. ends mask mandate in health-care facilities and proof of vaccination for long-term care visitors – CBC

The vaccine requirement for health-care workers remains in effect

Apr 06, 2023

British Columbia is ending its universal mask mandate in health-care settings, Provincial Health Offer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Thursday.

Masks will still be required in certain higher-risk areas and for patients with COVID-19 symptoms who are seeking health care, Henry said from Victoria.

The vaccine mandate for health-care workers remains in effect.

“We’re at a point now where we can change some of the restrictions in health-care settings,” said Henry from Victoria. “Masking remains a very important tool in the health-care setting, and health-care workers will still wear masks based on their risk assessments.

Visitors to long-term care and assisted living facilities will also no longer need to rapid test or show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Transmission of COVID-19 and influenza is decreasing in all parts of the province, according to testing and wastewater surveillance data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/henry-dix-respiratory-update-april-2023-1.6804003