The New Normal: Proof of Vaccination, Masks Indoors & Masks in Schools
Last week, the government of British Columbia announced that starting on September 13, 2021, proof of vaccination will be required in the province for people attending certain social and recreational activities and events. According to the news release that was issued, this is to “increase the vaccination rate across the province and provide confidence to fully vaccinated people that those around them are also fully vaccinated.”
As of September 13, 2021, proof of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be required and by October 24, 2021, two doses will be needed to get into indoor ticketed sporting events, indoor and patio dining at restaurants, fitness centres, casinos and indoor organized events such as conferences and weddings. People aged 12 and up will be required to show proof of vaccination to enter and/or participate in these events and activities.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, said: “I am grateful to every single person who has taken the time to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. While our vaccination rate continues to rise, we are still seeing waves of transmission, primarily amongst those who are not fully vaccinated. These new measures will help reduce transmission and keep our communities safe and ensure we can continue to keep businesses open and safely enjoy much-needed social events.”
In addition, a mask mandate has been reintroduced province-wide for public indoor spaces. This includes grocery stores, city halls, pubs and bars, restaurants, public transit, taxis and office buildings where public services are offered. The mask mandate goes into effect on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Read about the mandate on the CBC website.
With children returning to school in the coming days, the provincial government has also announced that students in grades 4 through 12 will wear masks. Read about the mandate in this Global article.
COVID-19 is a devastating and deadly virus – and, according to news reports, a majority of those being hospitalized or who are dying are unvaccinated. The CBC has an informative article on this.
Getting both vaccines is crucial – and so is masking up in public spaces. The delta variant is more transmissible and has shown that people are getting sicker with it. It is important for each of us to do what we can to stop this deadly virus from spreading.
