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People must continue to wear masks in indoor public spaces in B.C.

B.C. extends indoor mask mandate

Published 3:41 PDT, Fri October 29, 2021

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British Columbia's provincial health officer has extended the mask mandate that requires masks be worn in all indoor public spaces.

The previous order was set to expire on Sunday (Oct. 31). Masks are required in all public indoor settings for all people five and older, regardless of vaccination status. These settings include:

• malls, shopping centres, coffee shops and retail and grocery stores;

• liquor and drug stores;

• airports, city halls, libraries, community and recreation centres;

• restaurants, pubs and bars (unless seated);

• on public transportation, in a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle;

• areas of office buildings where services to the public are provided;

• common areas of sport and fitness centres when not engaged in physical activity;

• common areas of post-secondary institutions and non-profit organizations; and

• inside schools for all K-12 staff, visitors and students.

Masks may be removed temporarily in indoor public places:

• to identify the individual wearing the mask;

• to consume food or beverage at a location designated for this purpose;

• while participating in a sport or fitness activity in a sport facility;

• or while receiving a personal or health service that requires the mask to be removed.

People who cannot wear a mask or who cannot put on or remove a mask without the assistance of others are exempt. A person may not be able to wear a mask for a psychological, behavioural or health condition or due to a physical, cognitive or mental impairment.

Health officials also reported 584 new cases of COVID-19, 10 of which are epidemiologically linked. Since the pandemic began, B.C. has recorded 204,914 cases.

Of the new cases, 81 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region (including Richmond), 232 in the Fraser Health region, 82 in the Island Health region, 85 in the Interior Health region, 104 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

There are 4,982 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C. and 436 of those people are hospitalized, 156 of whom are in intensive care.

To date, 8,218,844 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C.; 3,940,563 of those are second doses.

This means that 90.3 per cent of adults and 89.8 per cent of people aged 12 and older have received their first dose of a vaccine. In addition, 85.6 per cent of adults and 85.0 per cent of those aged 12 and older have received two doses.

Sadly, there were nine new virus-related deaths reported today, bringing that total to 2,156. Of those who died, two lived in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, three in the Fraser Health region, two in the Island Health region and two in the Northern Health region.

Active outbreaks continue at 19 long-term care facilities, eight assisted or independent living facilities and six acute care facilities.

There was also a new outbreak reported at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre.

From Oct. 21 to 27, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 65.1 per cent of cases.

From Oct. 14 to 27, they accounted for 73.8 per cent of hospitalizations.

Past week cases (Oct. 21 to 27)—Total 4,098

• Not vaccinated: 2,418 (59.0 per cent)

• Partially vaccinated: 252 (6.1 per cent)

• Fully vaccinated: 1,428 (34.8 per cent)

Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Oct. 14 to 27)—Total 469

• Not vaccinated: 317 (67.6 per cent)

• Partially vaccinated: 29 (6.2 per cent)

• Fully vaccinated: 123 (26.2 per cent)

Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Oct. 21 to 27)

• Not vaccinated: 296.9

• Partially vaccinated: 84.5

• Fully vaccinated: 33.2

Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Oct. 14 to 27)

• Not vaccinated: 58.6

• Partially vaccinated: 12.7

• Fully vaccinated: 2.7

For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: http://www.bccdc.ca/ or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.