COVID-19 public health emergency in B.C. declared over

British Columbia's top doctor says she is ending the public health emergency declared in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says after four years of mask mandates, gathering restrictions, vaccinations and hospitalizations, any remaining restrictions, including the vaccination requirement for health-care workers, are being rescinded. 

Henry says that after reviewing all the data, she is confident the province has reached the point where there is no longer a need for the public health emergency.

"I remain immensely grateful to the people of B.C. who have risen to the occasion and did their best to support each other with kindness and compassion throughout these most challenging times," Henry said.

But while the mandate is lifted, the province is making it mandatory for health-care workers, doctors, nurses, volunteers and contractors in public health-care facilities, to disclose their immunization status, including COVID-19, influenza and measles vaccines. 

Health Minister Aidran Dix said information collected from the data will allow health authorities to make staffing decisions in the event of future outbreaks or exposures.

"Health-care workers are strong supporters of vaccination, and the vast majority have stepped up to get immunized and keep themselves and those they care for safe," said Dix.

Omicron still dominates

Henry said wastewater indicators and testing data show COVID-19 has levelled off, and the number of people in intensive care and hospitals is lower and stable.

She said there are currently 164 people in hospital in B.C. with the infectious disease, with 11 people in ICU, adding Omicron is still the predominant strain.

The emergency was declared on March 17, 2020, and British Columbia was the first province to record a COVID-19 death in the country. Mask mandates followed the emergency declaration, gatherings and public events were cancelled, businesses shut down and those who could began working from home.

Declaring a state of emergency allowed the province to enact any provincial emergency measures needed to respond to or lessen the impact of an emergency.

At the time, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said that included securing the critical supply chains to ensure British Columbians continued to have access to essential goods and services and that any infrastructure needed for the government response to COVID-19 would be readily available.

The B.C. Supreme Court ruled that the province's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health-care workers was justified, based on the significant risk posed by the virus.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry first imposed the orders on all workers in B.C. health-care settings in October 2021. The order was renewed in 2022 and 2023.

According to the judgment, around 1,800 workers lost their jobs for being unvaccinated, contrary to the mandate.

On Friday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said health workers fired due to previous orders can apply to fill available positions, although they must provide their "immune status" for certain pathogens, including COVID-19. 

B.C Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau said the government has not provided a science-based rationale for the disclosure requirement.

In a statement, she said the province hasn't addressed the "root cause of the crisis in our health-care system."

"The B.C. Greens remain committed to a renewal of public health, empowering and educating British Columbians to make evidence-driven, science-based decisions on their own health and well-being," Furstenau said.

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also weighed in on B.C.'s announcement in a post on social media platform X.

"How many people were denied care because these unscientific mandates pushed away needed nurses? Every single nurse should get their job again with back pay," wrote Polievre.

B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon accused the NDP government of lifting the mandate because it is politically unpopular, and the election is just three months away.

"I think frankly their position of Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix and the premier was absolutely indefensible and that's what's so frustrating about it. So yes, they're doing it all for politics."

In a statement, the B.C. Nurses' Union said it will closely monitor the development of the provincewide vaccine registry for health-care workers to ensure members' rights are protected.

"These nurses are a welcome addition that will help alleviate the critical staff challenges that are currently resulting in delays to patient care." read the statement.