While many welcome the end of masks in most place at 12:01 Friday, others say they will continue wearing them
Article content
Emotions ranged from relief to caution on Thursday following Dr. Bonnie Henry’s announcement that the province’s mask mandate would be lifted at midnight.
advertisement 2
Article content
“I have to say, what took you so long?” was Cash Mathieson’s reaction. “I think it will take people a while to get used to it, but I’m happy.”
Cash is in Grade 5. Two years out of a 10-year-old’s life is, well, it’s not too much of a stretch to say it’s almost all he’s known.
“I was watching a movie from the 1980s and I was asking myself, ‘Why aren’t people wearing masks?’” he said, while visiting the Shipyards District in North Vancouver with his family on Thursday.
His mom Jennifer agreed it will be strange seeing people without a mask on.
“I think it’s good, but I think it will be hard for people to get back into” no masks, she said. “I think a lot of people still won’t be comfortable in large crowded events, in restaurants even.”
advertisement 3
Article content
A quick survey of several North Van eating establishments found plastic dividers gone in many of them since the requirement for them disappeared a couple of weeks ago.
But at one Lonsdale Quay restaurant, the manager said her customers are still more comfortable having them in place.
“And it makes the staff more comfortable,” she said. Not having authority to speak on behalf of the restaurant, she asked her name de ella not be used.
“But I think the vaccine card being gone is a blessing to both staff and customers,” she said. The requirement to provide vaccination to enter facilities such as restaurants ends on April 8.
Added Vanessa Ellie, a server at Smoke and Bones in North Vancouver: “I’m not the health police, I just want to do my job. … I’ll be glad not to have to ask people for their cards anymore.”
advertisement 4
Article content
The plastic dividers are still up at her restaurant and her general manager said they’ll probably stay in place for a while yet.
“I get 50 per cent of our clients asking why they’re still up, and the other 50 per cent saying they’re thankful they’re still there,” Geoff Boshell said.
Servers will still wear masks, at least during a transition period, while we see how people feel and how comfortable they are,” he said. “It’s not a light switch, it’s a dimmer switch more than anything, that’s what I’d say.”
Felix Conway, coming out of the SeaBus terminal at Waterfront Station, said he couldn’t imagine getting on public transit and not having his mask on.
“I know, you’re looking at how fogged up my glasses are,” he said. “But that’s a minor inconvenience. I am still going to wear my mask.”
advertisement 5
Article content
Back on the North Shore, Vern Miller and Cindy Makarenko were visiting the Lonsdale Quay market from the Okanagan on Thursday and both said they’ll keep wearing their masks in public indoor situations.
“Wearing a mask doesn’t bother me whatsoever,” Makarenko said. “I think Dr. Henry has done a fantastic job the last two years, and I think British Columbians have 100 per cent confidence in her decision making her.”
Four blocks up the street, however, where Joanna Rouma was waiting for a bus on West 3rd Street, she said she is overjoyed the mask order has been lifted.
“I’m glad, I don’t like wearing a mask when I have to — I do to be respectful and follow the rules — but it will be nice to breathe freely again.”
More news, fewer ads, faster load time: Get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites for just $14/month or $140/year. Subscribe now through The vancouver sun or The Province.
