Weeks into the province's COVID-19 vaccination rollout and after months of concerns raised about the mental health impacts of isolation, the rules around visiting B.C. seniors are about to change.
Health officials announced the following updates to the policies around long-term care and assisted living, which will come into effect on April 1:
Those precautions include masks, and hand washing or hand sanitizer. Additionally, visits will have to be booked in advance, medical masks will be required and visitors will be screened.
In the event of an outbreak, visitation will be suspended, but otherwise, these changes are expected to be in place starting in April and continuing through the end of June.
Health officials will monitor the changes and their impact and re-evaluate if needed.
Additionally, physical distancing will no longer be required between residents, and communal dining and recreational activities can resume.
It's likely welcome news for families and seniors who've raised concerns about the health impacts of isolation. Visitor restrictions have been in place in long-term care and assisted living in B.C. since March 2020, as a means of fighting back against the fatal outbreaks reported in the pandemic's early days.
The province's top doctor said Thursday that protecting those most vulnerable to the coronavirus has been B.C.'s "most prominent priority," but acknowledged that she knew it hadn't been easy on seniors and their loved ones.
"As you know, there has been no group more adversely affected in our province than our seniors and Elders and people who work in long-term care and assisted living," Dr. Bonnie Henry said at a news conference Thursday.
"I am very, very pleased that we are at a place where we can make some changes that will affect people's quality of life."
Speaking about loosening restrictions in general in B.C., including allowing for outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people after months of no gatherings at all, Henry said health officials are being asked why now.
With variants of concern being recorded more often in the province, is this the right time?
"Really it's not about easing restrictions as much as recognizing that at this phase in the pandemic, we need to focus on those things that we can do safely," the provincial health officer said.
Indoor activities are still a risk, she said, and safety will remain a priority.
Outbreaks have decreased in long-term care and assisted living, Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said.
"The reality is that it is likely we are going to have more outbreaks in care homes now that we're allowing more people to come in to those care homes," Henry said.
"But we are at a point where the benefits of having those social connections and interactions outweigh the risks, and we know that we can manage those risks with the vast majority of residents and staff now being protected with immunization."
Still, visitors and operators will still need to be cautious and follow precautions to keep residents and staff safe, and there will be regular screening to help reduce the risks.
Visitors will be told to stay home if they're feeling sick, and they'll be limited to visiting one loved one in long-term care or assisted living and not multiple people.
- with files from CTV -