The B.C. government has extended the COVID-19 vaccine card program by another six months, to June 30.

The program is meant to allow people over the age of 12 to access non-essential indoor spaces like restaurants, bars, and gyms if they have gotten at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The two-dose requirement came into effect on Oct. 24, with Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, noting this extension past the Jan. 31 expiry date, comes as the government is trying to mitigate the risks of spreading COVID-19.

“The vaccine card program is designed to help keep businesses open. I expect it will no longer be necessary [at one point], but right now, it is one of the important tools that we have,” she said Tuesday, noting the province will re-examine the proposed end date if the COVID situation improves.

While the number of COVID-19 infections is dipping, Henry says hospitalizations are at the highest point of the pandemic.

As it stands, there are 985 people in hospital with COVID-19, down by two from Monday’s update. However, the number of people in intensive care went up by 15 to 144 across the province.

Henry also announced that starting next Tuesday, Feb. 1, youth sports tournaments in the province can resume, though all adult tournaments remain on hold.

– With files from The Canadian Press