After four years of mask mandates, gathering restrictions, vaccinations and hospitalizations, B.C.’s chief medical officer of health is ending the state of public health emergency that was declared in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DD Bonnie Henry announced Friday that all remaining restrictions, including the vaccine mandate for health care workers, will be lifted.
“While COVID-19 has not gone away, we now have high levels of protection in the health care system and in communities across British Columbia.”
Mme Henry said after reviewing all the data, she was confident the province had reached the point where the public health emergency was no longer necessary.
“Wastewater indicators and analytical data show that COVID-19 has stabilized and the number of people in intensive care and hospitals is lower and stable. The level of protection provided by vaccines and hybrid immunity also helps protect us,” she explained at a press conference.
Hospitalizations are down, she said, noting that fewer than 200 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, with 11 of them in intensive care.
British Columbia was the first province in the country to record a death from COVID-19 and a state of emergency was declared on March 17, 2020. Mask mandates followed the emergency declaration, public gatherings and events were banned, businesses were forced to close, and those who could began working from home.
Health Minister Adrian Dix added that health workers laid off due to previous restrictions can apply to fill available positions, although they must demonstrate their immunity status to certain pathogens, including COVID-19.