On August 25, 2021, British Columbia announced that pursuant to an Order of the Provincial Health Officer, masks will again be required in all public indoor settings for those age 12 and older.
Covered Public Indoor Settings
Covered public indoor settings include:
- Malls and shopping centres
- Grocery and liquor stores
- Airports
- Coffee shops
- On public transportation, in a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle
- Libraries
- Clothing and retail stores
- 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
- Inside schools for all K to 12 staff, visitors, and for students in grades 4 to 12
- Drug stores
- Community centres
- Recreation centres
- City Halls
- Restaurants, pubs and bars when not seated at a table
A face shield may not be substituted for a mask.
Exemptions
The following individuals are exempt from the mask requirement:
- People with health conditions or with physical, cognitive or mental impairments who cannot wear a mask;
- People who cannot remove a mask on their own;
- Children under the age of 12; and
- People who need to remove their masks to communicate due to another person's hearing impairment
Reassessment
The Order will be reassessed when proof of vaccination and British Columbia’s vaccine card are fully implemented.
