A mask mandate is returning for British Columbia as transmission rates increase in many communities. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MANDATORY MASKS

Mask mandate returns for all British Columbians, effective Aug. 25

Aug 24, 2021 | 10:14 AM

NANAIMO — Masks will again become common place for all indoor areas across B.C.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a new, temporary public health order on Tuesday, Aug. 24 which will require the use of at least a non-medical grade mask in all public indoor spaces for those aged 12 and up, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 25.

The order affects most indoor places including malls, coffee shops, retail and drug stores, fitness centres, as well as restaurants, bars and pubs when not seated at your table.

“This is to address those situations where we are in indoor settings with people who may not yet have been vaccinated,” Dr. Henry said. “We need to continue to do those things that keep us safe and one of those is wearing masks in indoor settings as rates of transmission in our communities have crept upwards.”

The mask mandate is similar to one implemented during the second and third waves of COVID-19 and requires a face covering in a vast majority of indoor, public settings.

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No end date for the public health order was announced, however Henry said it would be reassessed as the BC vaccine card program came online.

The program requires COVID-19 vaccination to access several non-essential areas of regular life such as movie theatres, restaurants and gyms.

“I know we all want to put it behind us and I can’t stress enough the powerful and effective tools we have that are helping us to do that and that is vaccines. Vaccines are the most effective way to keep transmission down, to keep COVID out of our communities, our schools and workplaces.”

According to the BC CDC, as of Aug. 19, 74 per cent of those aged 12 and up in greater Nanaimo and 76 per cent of those eligible in Oceanside have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

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