Spring break in BC could look a little different than it has in the last couple of years.
During Tuesday’s live COVID-19 press conference, BC health officials suggested the possibility of removing current health protocols in the province before the holiday starts.
While spring break begins March 14th in the Lower Mainland, schools on Vancouver Island kick off their break one week later, on March 21st.
During the presser, BC’s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reiterated that masks and vaccination cards remain a crucial part of province’s COVID-19 strategy, but said mask mandates might end.
While no restrictions were lifted today, Henry alluded the remaining health orders would be reviewed around March 15th but changes could happen sooner.
According to health officials, intense pressure on the health care system is easing up as case numbers drop and the temperatures warm.
Additionally, BC will soon be moving to weekly COVID-19 updates rather than five days a week.
With the removal of the mandates, Henry said people are going to need to make decisions themselves whether they wear mask or not, but the province would still support businesses choosing to keep the mask mandate in place.
Restrictions at schools could also be eased when students return after spring break.
Henry also touched base on COVID-19 fines and said those would stop and become a personal and business responsibility.
As of this publication, there are 523 people in hospital with 83 of those in ICU.
There were only 466 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Tuesday, with 95 of those being in the Island Health region.
