Just when British Columbians thought it was safe to breathe unfiltered air again, B.C. is installing a temporary mask mandate in indoor public settings, said the province’s top doc Tuesday..Dr. Bonnie Henry argued the masks are necessary given BC’s ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases because of the highly contagious Delta variant..“This measure is needed to ensure these indoor settings are as safe as they can be for all of us as we head into the fall,” Henry said..“This is to address those situations where we are in indoor settings with people who may not yet have been vaccinated.”.The order requiring masks to be worn by anyone 12 and older in most indoor public settings will take effect Wednesday, August 25..“This will include malls, shopping centres, coffee shops, retail and grocery stores, liquor and drug stores, city halls, libraries, community and recreation centres, restaurants, pubs and bars – unless you are seated once you’re at your table,” Henry said..Masks are also required for public transit, taxi and ride-sharing vehicles, common areas of sports and fitness centres, and “areas of office buildings where services are provided to the public,” Henry added..The mask order followed an announcement Monday when BC Premier John Horgan announced the province would soon require proof of vaccination for people attending certain social and recreational settings and events in the coming months..“The Delta variant and an increase in cases, largely within the unvaccinated population, has led us to pause and reflect on what steps and what measures we can we take through public health and through other initiatives to protect British Columbians and to protect businesses,” said Horgan Monday..BC currently logged a total of 160,630 total cases of COVID-19..From August 20-21, BC saw 724 new cases, from August 21-22, 545 new cases.and 442 new cases were recorded August 22-23..Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..,.mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
