0

B.C. COVID-19 capacity limits to end; Feds ease travel requirements

Premier says public wants to chart a B.C. course and respects the comfort levels of others

  • Full capacity returns Thursday at all venues
  • Dancing and mingling will be allowed
  • Face masks and vaccine card remain in place

As of Thursday, many of the social restrictions put in place because of the Omicron variant of concern late last year will be lifted in B.C.

The key highlight announced Tuesday is the end to capacity limits, and the ability to legally jig about it in celebration - but keep your mask on.

Protective measures such as the wearing of masks in indoor public spaces, the need for a BC Vaccine Card, and COVID-19 Safety Plans for businesses will remain in place.

In a media hand out, the government said the easing of most restrictions was possible because “we did the right things for each other and got vaccinated.”

Starting at 11:59 p.m., Wednesday night, indoor personal gatherings return to pre-pandemic normal, full capacity will once again be allowed at indoor and outdoor organized gatherings, and indoor seated events will return to full capacity.

Full capacity will also be allowed at fitness centres, adult sports, dance and swimming, and there will be no tournament restrictions.

Restaurants, bars and nightclubs will be allowed full capacity with no table limits; mingling and dancing are allowed.

The government said the protective measures remaining in place like face masks and the need for the vaccine card, will be reviewed again on March 15 and again by April 12, in light of spring break and Easter holidays.

Other remaining restrictions also include visitation to long term care facilities, K to 12 childcare guidelines, faith community guidelines, youth camps and industrial camps.

Speaking at a regular Tuesday media briefing, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the easing of measures this week was possible because of the high level of immunity through immunization. But she acknowledged everyone’s level of comfort about things needs to be respected.

Too quick for some, not quick enough for others

“We know that for some people what we are doing today will be really fast and make them uncomfortable. We know as well for others it’s not fast enough. We need to respect that people need to go at their own pace and businesses will need to go at their own pace depending on their own risk,” Henry said.

The latest vaccination figures show 55 per cent of eligible kids 5 to 11 have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 90.5 per cent of British Columbians 12-plus have received their second dose, and 52.7 per of British Columbians 12-plus have received a booster, or third dose.

Asked why B.C. was an outlier in Canada while other jurisdictions were ending their vaccine cards, Premier John Horgan said the people of B.C. are comfortable to be outliers on a number of fronts, “because we want to ensure the sacrifices the people have made over the past two years are not in vain."

“I believe British Columbians want us to chart a B.C. course based on the variable that come into play in our communities… and most importantly they can respect other people’s comfort levels,” he said.

Changes for international air travel

Meanwhile, as expected, the federal government said Tuesday vaccinated travelers will no longer need a molecular (PCR) test to enter Canada as of Feb. 28.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said travelers will instead be allowed to use a rapid antigen test approved by the country they are coming from.

Unvaccinated children travelling with vaccinated adults who come to Canada will no longer have to isolate from school or daycare for 14 days.

Unvaccinated Canadian adults will need to be tested at the airport and isolate upon arrival.

The government also plans to lift its advisory urging Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside the country due to the risk of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

While it welcomed the latest move, WestJet said the travel and tourism industry's recovery remains impeded until pre-departure testing requirement is fully removed for fully-vaccinated travelers. In a statement, the WestJet Group said it would continue to advocate, based on science and data, for the removal of all measures impacting fully-vaccinated air travelers.

Latest COVID numbers

B.C. reported 519 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, with 787 hospitalizations (16 fewer than Monday) and 124 of those in intensive care (five more than Monday).

In the Interior, there were 287 new cases, 164 hospitalizations (four more than Monday) and 17 people in intensive care (one fewer than Monday).

With files from VernonMatters

Published 2022-02-15 by Glenn Hicks

Get a fresh daily look

See what’s happening in and around our city, and the people who call it home.

Our newsroom abides by the RTNDA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and follows the Canadian Press Stylebook. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to send us a news tip, please contact us.

Kelowna10 is division of Pattison Media, and strives to achieve the highest ethical standards in all that we do.