Long-term care visits almost back to normal in B.C.

B.C. residents can go back long-term care centres to visit their family members and loved ones.

Along with repealing mask mandates, long-term care visitation policies are returning to pre-Omicron restrictions.

B.C. health authorities added restrictions on Jan. 1 to address the rising Omicron variant of COVID-19, which included limits on who could visit loved ones in long-term care.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced today that several COVID-19 restrictions are soon being repealed in the province, with some changes to come tomorrow, March 11.

At a Thursday afternoon press conference, she said long-term care visitors should expect individual care homes to include their own measures and to communicate case counts within the facility.

Only essential visitors were permitted at long term care centres in order to limit Omicron transmission.

"The goal will be to increase visitation and opportunities for connection between residents and families, while continuing to protect those we know are most vulnerable to serious illness," Dr. Henry said.

Visitors must be vaccinated and take a rapid test for COVID-19 to enter the facility, she said.

Along with increased visitation, the public health order mandating mask wearing in indoor spaces is being repealed tomorrow. In addition, the proof of vaccine rule for indoor spaces is expected to be repealed by early-April.

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