In a letter addressed to “Registrars of Colleges for Health Professionals in British Columbia” dated April 1st but only recently made public, Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Bonnie Henry recommends the continued use of medical masks by practitioners and patients/clients in health care settings when there is close, in person patient/client contact.
She also recommends “a continued focus by health care professionals on diligent hand washing, immunization, respecting personal space, regular cleaning and disinfection, ensuring appropriate ventilation, and staying home when sick”. However, the PHO leaves the implementation of such recommendations up to individual registrants using their clinical judgement and stops short of maintaining any sort of mandate at this time.
- Quebec has continued to maintain a mask mandate in places such as healthcare facilities, workplaces, public transit, and schools.
- Ontario currently requires masks on public transit and healthcare facilities as well.
- Alberta currently requires masks on public transit for people 13 and older and Alberta Health Services operated and contracted facilities and continuing care settings.