Dr. Bonnie Henry

As of Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces throughout B.C. to help slow the transmission of COVID-19 as B.C. prepares for the fall and respiratory illness season.

A new order from the provincial health officer will require people 12 and older to wear masks in indoor public settings, 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 in grades 4-12.

This temporary order will be reassessed as the B.C. vaccine card requirement is fully implemented in certain social and recreational settings, as announced on Aug. 23.