BC Premier John Horgan continued selling the province’s new vaccine card during a September 13 press conference, the very day the new rules take effect..British Columbians now need to provide proof of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in order to enter restaurants, movies, ticketed sporting events and many other non-essential venues and by October 24, only fully vaccinated people will be able to access those same services and venue..“We’ve had a 200% increase in the number of people registered for vaccines,” said Horgan..“As of today, 85% of British Columbians over the age of 12 have received the first dose and 78% have received two doses..Horgan delighted in the “very good news and extraordinary effort” by British Columbians..“Vaccines are a vital tool in our toolkit to put COVID-19 behind us,” Horgan continued..Anyone who wants to access a range of non-essential indoor settings must show proof of at least one dose of vaccine, with a second shot required by the October deadline..“The implementation of a BC vaccine card will allow us to ensure those non essential businesses that have been adversely affected by lockdowns and shutdowns and public health orders can now competently say to their patrons who have been double vaccinated they are operating a business that is safe for them to enter and enjoy a meal, enjoy the theater, go to a sporting event,” he said..“These initiatives are critically important to our success going forward (and) I’m very excited about the prospects of over the next number of months, these measures that we’re putting in place will be mirrored in other jurisdictions across Canada, already Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba are underway. And I’m absolutely confident that other provinces will join in.”.Horgan said the vaccine card will also be able to prove to those who are coming into Canada they have taken steps to protect themselves and their loved ones by getting two vaccines..“But,” Horgan added, “we have seen an unacceptable surge in COVID cases largely among those who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated, and I encourage all British Columbians to weigh against their particular point of view today, the positive benefits of following so many other British Columbians getting vaccinated to protect yourself, to protect your families, and allowing us all to move forward, keeping your economy going, making sure that jobs are still there for people.”.Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced during the same press conference that COVID-19 vaccination will soon be mandatory for anyone who works in a health-care facility across the province..Henry said the requirement will come into effect Oct. 26 and will apply to everyone who works in those settings, including students, doctors, residents, contractors and all other health-care professionals..The vaccine card spurred protests in recent weeks, including outside hospitals in B.C., and politicians are anticipating more protests could be on the horizon..Horgan said there are many things the vaccine card is, but there are many things they are not..“One of them is is not to impede services, basic services for a government — you do not have to be concerned about not being able to access provincial services, municipal services, because you’ve only had one vaccine or you have no vaccines at all,” he said..“This is not taking away something is adding to what you’re able to do. So let’s focus on that, let’s focus on making sure we get those numbers up from 85% to 90% and beyond.”.The digital or paper vaccine card is required at settings such as ticketed sports events, concerts, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, casinos, gyms and movie theatres..COVID-19 cases have continued to climb across British Columbia over the past few months with 5,850 active COVID-19 infections as of last Friday..Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..,.mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
BC Premier John Horgan continued selling the province’s new vaccine card during a September 13 press conference, the very day the new rules take effect..British Columbians now need to provide proof of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in order to enter restaurants, movies, ticketed sporting events and many other non-essential venues and by October 24, only fully vaccinated people will be able to access those same services and venue..“We’ve had a 200% increase in the number of people registered for vaccines,” said Horgan..“As of today, 85% of British Columbians over the age of 12 have received the first dose and 78% have received two doses..Horgan delighted in the “very good news and extraordinary effort” by British Columbians..“Vaccines are a vital tool in our toolkit to put COVID-19 behind us,” Horgan continued..Anyone who wants to access a range of non-essential indoor settings must show proof of at least one dose of vaccine, with a second shot required by the October deadline..“The implementation of a BC vaccine card will allow us to ensure those non essential businesses that have been adversely affected by lockdowns and shutdowns and public health orders can now competently say to their patrons who have been double vaccinated they are operating a business that is safe for them to enter and enjoy a meal, enjoy the theater, go to a sporting event,” he said..“These initiatives are critically important to our success going forward (and) I’m very excited about the prospects of over the next number of months, these measures that we’re putting in place will be mirrored in other jurisdictions across Canada, already Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba are underway. And I’m absolutely confident that other provinces will join in.”.Horgan said the vaccine card will also be able to prove to those who are coming into Canada they have taken steps to protect themselves and their loved ones by getting two vaccines..“But,” Horgan added, “we have seen an unacceptable surge in COVID cases largely among those who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated, and I encourage all British Columbians to weigh against their particular point of view today, the positive benefits of following so many other British Columbians getting vaccinated to protect yourself, to protect your families, and allowing us all to move forward, keeping your economy going, making sure that jobs are still there for people.”.Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced during the same press conference that COVID-19 vaccination will soon be mandatory for anyone who works in a health-care facility across the province..Henry said the requirement will come into effect Oct. 26 and will apply to everyone who works in those settings, including students, doctors, residents, contractors and all other health-care professionals..The vaccine card spurred protests in recent weeks, including outside hospitals in B.C., and politicians are anticipating more protests could be on the horizon..Horgan said there are many things the vaccine card is, but there are many things they are not..“One of them is is not to impede services, basic services for a government — you do not have to be concerned about not being able to access provincial services, municipal services, because you’ve only had one vaccine or you have no vaccines at all,” he said..“This is not taking away something is adding to what you’re able to do. So let’s focus on that, let’s focus on making sure we get those numbers up from 85% to 90% and beyond.”.The digital or paper vaccine card is required at settings such as ticketed sports events, concerts, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, casinos, gyms and movie theatres..COVID-19 cases have continued to climb across British Columbia over the past few months with 5,850 active COVID-19 infections as of last Friday..Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..,.mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
