Overlander Long-Term Care Home (File Photo. Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

COVID-19

Loosened restrictions for B.C. long-term care visitation announced

Jul 8, 2021 | 4:15 PM

VICTORIA — The province is significantly loosening visitation restrictions for seniors care homes in B.C., saying the COVID-19 vaccination program has made the environments much more safe.

Starting July 19, visitors will no longer need to pre-book, the limit on the number of visitors will be removed and no masks will be required for those who are fully immunized.

“This will be able to allow, with some continuing restrictions, for the safety of people in long-term care,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix, “the true – and even spontaneous – unscheduled visits in long-term care that will allow, I think, a return to a sense of normalcy and social activity in long-term care.”

In addition to changes for visitors, the health ministry is introducing new rules to ensure staff do not transmit the virus in the workplace.

“Long-term care and assisted living workers will be required to report vaccination status to their employers,” said Dix. “Workers who are not fully vaccinated will be required to wear a mask at work and be tested for COVID-19 using regular rapid tests.”

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Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the vast majority of seniors in care, residents and workers are vaccinated, which has led to these changes.

“We can see that light at the end of the tunnel. Our ongoing vaccine effectiveness in long-term care tells us that the vaccine program that we have is working and continues to work to protect those people who are living in those settings,” said Henry.

“We know that these changes will bring a big sense of joy and relief to many, many people, but we also know that some people will be nervous – perhaps feeling as though we’re moving a bit too quickly. We have considered these things very carefully and we will continue to be watching. We have scheduled these changes to start on July 19, so we will have a good sense of what we’re seeing in our community.”

In a tweet, B.C. Care Providers’ Association CEO Terry Lake thanked Dix for the announcement.