You can put your face masks away when the clock hits midnight tonight – if you like – but you will need to keep the BC Vaccine Card on your phone for another month.

That is as Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, says the mask mandate will be dropped in most places starting tomorrow, Mar. 11, while the vaccine passports will no longer be needed as of Apr. 8.

“I recognize the changes we are announcing today will make some people very uncomfortable. It has been a long a trying two years,” she said. “Our masks and other safety layers have provided a level of comfort and protection for all of us and it is why it is important for everybody to move at our own pace.”

As of Friday, capacity limits for worship services, while COVID orders related to overnight child and youth camps will also be gone. On March 18, long-term care homes will be allowed to have more visitors, though vaccine cards and rapid testing will continue to be in place.

“Some settings will still require that you wear a mask,” Henry added. “For example, for healthcare settings, physicians offices, patient contact areas. But most low risk locations, it will now be an option and no longer a necessity.”

The province says K-12 school guidelines will be revised with amended measures coming into effect after Spring Break.

Meanwhile, regulated health professionals will still be required to report vaccination status by Mar. 31.