COVID-19 update for March 12-13: BC reports three new deaths as mask mandate is lifted | With optional masks, businesses have few ways to enforce individual rules | Masks no longer required at Canucks’ games

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Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in BC for March 12-13, 2022.

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We’ll provide summaries of what’s going on in BC right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated regularly throughout the day, with developments added as they happen.

Check back here for more updates throughout the day. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 pm by subscribing to our newsletter here.

BC’S COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

Here are the latest figures given on March 11:

• Total number of confirmed cases: 352,039
• New cases: 288
• Total deaths: 2,935 (three new)
• Hospitalized cases: 368
• Intensive care: 46
• Total vaccinations: 4,327,290 received first dose (90.7% of eligible pop. 5+); 4,318,406 second doses (86.6%); 2,616,170 third doses (56.4% of those 12+)
• Long-term care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: 14

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A FONDO: Here are all the BC cases of the novel coronavirus in 2021 | in 2020

BC GUIDES AND LINKS

• COVID-19: BC’s vaccine passport is here and this is how it works

• COVID-19: Afraid of needles? Here’s how to overcome your fear and get vaccinated

• COVID-19: Here’s where to get tested in Metro Vancouver

• BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

LATEST NEWS on COVID-19 in BC

BC reports three new COVID-19 deaths as mask mandate is lifted

British Columbia has recorded three more deaths related to COVID-19 for a total of 2,935 fatalities since the pandemic began.

The Health Ministry said in a news release Friday the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has dropped to 368 from 388 Thursday, with 46 people in intensive care.

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It said people who are not fully vaccinated accounted for 28.7 per cent of hospitalizations between Feb. 24 and March 9.

The ministry said 90.9 per cent of those eligible 12 and older have received their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 56.4 per cent have had their third dose.

This comes as BC officially lifted its COVID-19 mask mandate on Friday and announced the vaccine passport will no longer be needed to access restaurants and venues as of April 8.

—The Canadian Press

End of provincial mask order hardly noticeable in public on Day 1

On the first day that face masks were no longer required in BC, one of Vancouver’s busiest pedestrian intersections, the corner of Broadway and Cambie, was still flooded with masks.

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Only a few Canada Line passengers emerged from the station without a mask. Looking at the prevalence of masks in restaurants, stores, businesses, buses and even on the sidewalks outdoors, it wasn’t obvious the provincial health officer had declared the mask mandate largely over.

“I always wear a mask, but I thought, I’m going to give it a test and see how it feels,” said Kim Larsen, one of the few without a mask coming from the Canada Line station, where signs are still posted mandating masks.

“It feels really good,” he said. “It felt a little like I did something wrong and I expected some negative feedback, but no, there was none.”

Larsen had a mask with him and expected to put it on at his dentist’s appointment that day.

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Read the full story here.

—Susan Lazaruk

With optional masks, businesses have few ways to enforce individual rules

Massy Books is one Vancouver business that will keep its COVID-19 policy asking customers and employees to wear masks although the provincial health order requiring it has been lifted.

“We’re doing it for everybody, we’re doing it for staff and customers and people that are vulnerable,” said proprietor Patricia Massy, ​​who didn’t have to take much time thinking about the decision.

The provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, rescinded her order for most public, indoor settings as of Friday morning, though she left it open for individual businesses to “choose to continue requiring masks on their premises.”

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Massy said the decision, announced Thursday, caught her by surprise with little notice, but she “immediately made a decision,” that her business would keep their rule.

“We have staff here that have vulnerable immunocompromised people in their lives and I know somebody whose husband has cancer and who got Omicron and almost died.” Massy said. “There’s a lot of people that are still dying and there’s still people that are getting really sick. I think it is maybe a little bit too soon.”

Read the full story here.

—Derrick Penner

Masks no longer required at local Vancouver Canucks’ games

Hockey fans can now scream out their joy when the Vancouver Canucks’ score a goal without being muffled by a mask.

Canucks Sports & Entertainment announced Friday that in line with the updated provincial COVID-19 health guidelines, masks will no longer be required at events held at Rogers Arena and Abbotsford Centre.

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Fans and employees who wish to continue wearing masks are welcome to do so, said Michael Doyle, president of Canucks Sports & Entertainment.

Fans are still required to show proof of double vaccination for entry.

—Tiffany Crawford

DEATHS BY HEALTH AUTHORITY

WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS CANADA

LOCAL RESOURCES for COVID-19 information

Here are a number of information and landing pages for COVID-19 from various health and government agencies.

• BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

• Vancouver Coastal Health – Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

• HealthLink BC – Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page

• BC Center for Disease Control – Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Government of Canada – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

• World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

–with files from The Canadian Press