B.C. health officials say mask mandate not needed amid surge of respiratory illness – CBC

Data shows influenza A hitting B.C. children the hardest, followed by RSV, while COVID-19 rates level off

Nov 16, 2022

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says even with rising rates of respiratory illness, especially among children, a mask mandate is not necessary at this time.

“I don’t believe we need that heavy hand of a mandate,” said Henry. “I don’t see the need for a mask mandate by itself because we have many other tools and a high level of protection.”

Henry said previous mask mandates were imposed when COVID-19 vaccines were not available for children and when there was a high rate of sickness and absenteeism among adults and restrictions on gathering.

“In that context, masks were important and necessary. We are in a different situation now. We have a very high level of immunity. We have vaccines. We have treatments for influenza, for COVID-19, for RSV,” she said.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-health-update-respiratory-illnesses-1.6653483