In BC, we continue to have orders and guidelines in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The good news is that we are in Step 3 of the provincial four-step plan called Restart.  This phased approach focuses on protecting people and safely getting life back to normal. We are now allowed more in-person social contact but it’s still important to stay home and get tested if we feel sick.

The most important part of the restart is getting vaccinated. One option is to register to get your vaccine and wait for your local Health Authority to contact you to book your vaccine appointment. You can also attend Vax for BC drop-in clinics and events across the province.

It can be a bit confusing and overwhelming as information keeps changing frequently, so we’ve summarized the latest key provincial guidelines for you.

Virus symbol

Proof of vaccination

Research shows that unvaccinated people are about 10x more likely to get COVID-19 than vaccinated people. It’s important to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are able to. This has been a long year of constantly changing information – if you’re feeling any anxiety or fear about COVID-19 or getting the vaccine, that’s totally normal. Make sure you take care of yourself and get support when you need it.  

People 12+ years old will soon need to show proof of vaccination through a BC vaccine card to attend some events, services and businesses, including:

  • Indoor ticketed concerts, theatre, dance, symphony and sporting events
  • Indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants, pubs and bars that are licensed to sell alcohol or offer table service
  • Nightclubs and casinos 
  • Movie theatres 
  • Gyms and recreation facilities 
  • Indoor group exercise 
  • Indoor organized gatherings with 50 or more people like weddings, parties, conferences, meetings and workshops
  • Indoor organized group recreational classes and activities like pottery and art
  • Post-secondary on-campus student housing (Note: Students must be partially vaccinated by September 7)

You don’t need to show proof of vaccination at events, services, and businesses like:

  • Youth recreational sports
  • Attending school grades K to 12 
  • Before and after school (K to 12) programs
  • Accessing supports and services at a Foundry centre
  • Grocery stores, liquor stores and pharmacies
  • Unlicensed restaurants that don’t offer table service, like fast food, coffee shops and takeout
  • Salons, hairdressers, barbers
  • Hotels, resorts, cabins and campsites
  • Banks and credit unions
  • Retail and clothing stores
  • Food banks and shelters
  • Escape rooms, laser tag, indoor paintball, arcades and bowling alleys (if they are unlicensed or don’t offer table service)
  • Swimming pools (unless it’s the location of an event) and skating rinks (unless being used for adult sport)
  • Post-secondary on-campus cafeterias
  • In-person voting at the September 20 federal election or at advance polling stations

Find a full list of what events, services and businesses require proof of vaccination here.

The important dates to know are:

  • Starting September 13, you must be partially vaccinated with dose 1 of the COVID-19 vaccine. 
  • Until September 26, you can use your vaccine record card (the little card you got when you got the vaccine) as proof of vaccination.
  • By October 24, you must be fully vaccinated for at least 7 days with dose 2 of the COVID-19 vaccine.

You can now get your BC vaccine record card:

  • Step 1: Log in securely. You will need your:
    • Date of birth
    • Personal Health Number (PHN: You can find your PHN on the back of your BC driver’s license, BC services card, or CareCard. If you can’t find your PHN, call 1-833-838-2323)
    • Date you got dose 1 or dose 2 of the COVID-19 vaccine. (You will be asked to provide the most recent date.)
  • Step 2: Save a copy of your BC Vaccine Card. Once you take a screenshot of the QR code, print it out and keep it with you. You can also save a paper copy of the pdf to keep with you.
    • Note: every BC Vaccine Card has a unique QR code. Do not share your QR code on social media.

The BC vaccine card aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19, keep people safe and make sure everyone can safely enjoy social events. Even so, you may have mixed feelings about what this means for you or your loved ones, especially if you are not vaccinated. The decision to get the vaccine is your choice and should be respected.

The first step to making the decision to get vaccinated is to get informed. There is a lot of misinformation out there about the COVID-19 vaccine. Here are some tips to help you find trusted information about vaccines. You can also check out our Intro to Vaccines for Youth article. 

Find more information about proof of vaccination in BC here.

 

Interior Health regional restrictions:

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The Interior Health region is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases. More than 95% of recent COVID-19 cases in the region are among people who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Some temporary restrictions have been put in place until there is a drop in COVID-19 cases and more people get vaccinated. As of August 23rd, 2021, the following guidelines are in place until further notice:

  • Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces for people 12+ years old.
  • Avoid non-essential travel to the area until further notice.
  • Indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants is limited to groups of 6 people.
  • Nightclubs and bars are temporarily closed unless they have full meal service.
  • Indoor low-intensity group exercise is allowed with groups up to 10 people.
  • Indoor high-intensity group exercise is not allowed until further notice.
  • Gatherings in vacation rentals are limited to 5 guests, or one other household.
  • Indoor personal gatherings are limited to no more than five people, or one other household.
  • Outdoor personal gatherings (e.g. birthday parties or backyard BBQs) are limited to no more than 50 people.
  • Indoor organized gatherings (e.g. weddings or seated events) are limited to 50 people and outdoor organized gatherings are limited to 100 people, both with a COVID-19 safety plan in place.

Learn more about these temporary restrictions here.

Provincial Restrictions Summary from Step 3 of the Restart Plan

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  • Non-medical masks must be worn in public indoor spaces. As of August 25, 2021, wearing a mask is required in public indoor spaces (e.g. grocery stores, restaurants, public transit) for people 12+ years old.
  • Personal gatherings return to normal. This means there are no longer limits on how many people you can gather with, in places like your home or backyard.
  • Restaurants, bars and pubs are open for indoor and outdoor dining. There are no limits for group sizes but socializing between tables is not allowed. 
  • Indoor organized gatherings up to 50 people or 50% capacity (whichever is more) are allowed. There are no restrictions on religious gatherings or worship services.
  • Outdoor organized gatherings of 5,000 people or 50% capacity (whichever is more) are allowed. Events like fairs and festivals can return to normal with a Communicable Disease Plan in place.  
  • Gyms and recreation centres are open with normal capacity.  All indoor fitness classes are now allowed.
  • Outdoor spectators of 5,000 people or 50% capacity (whichever is more) are allowed. 
  • Indoor spectators of 50 people or 50% capacity (whichever is more) are allowed.
  • Non-essential travel within Canada is allowed. You can now travel across Canada for recreational travel and to visit family and friends.
    • Note: Non-essential travel to the Interior Health region of BC is discouraged because of the increase in COVID-19 cases.
  • Non-medical masks are recommended. Wearing a mask is recommended in public indoor settings for people 12+ years old who are not fully vaccinated. 
    • You are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving dose 2 of the COVID-19 vaccine. 
    • Even if you’re fully vaccinated, you may choose to wear a mask, and that’s okay! Do what feels comfortable for you.

You can read more about the current province-wide restrictions here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where can I go to get support?

There’s still a lot to deal with right now. It’s important to find the right type of support for you if you need it. Keep in mind that the support you need can change over time. For many people, staying connected to family, friends, and loved ones is important. Find ways to connect that are comfortable for you, such as in-person or virtually.

  • Foundry’s provincial virtual services – Young people aged 12-24 and their caregivers can utilize the Foundry BC app to access drop-in or schedule virtual counselling appointments, find peer support, join a group or browse our library of tools and resources.
  • Find a Foundry centre in your community. We’ve taken a number of measures at Foundry centres to ensure we are aligned with BC Centre for Disease Control’s recommendations. Please call your local Foundry centre for the most up-to-date information on service availability.
  • Kids Help Phone – text CONNECT to 686868 (text STOP, if you would like to stop the conversation)
  • Try Pathfinder, Foundry’s 4-step tool to help you find personalized support options
  • Find other support options on our Get Support page

Available COVID-19 Resources:

  • For non-medical information about COVID-19, call 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. or text message 604-630-0300. Information is available in more than 110 languages.
  • The BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool can help you decide if you need testing for COVID-19. You can complete this assessment for yourself, or for someone else if they are not able to.

Information is changing frequently. Check the BCCDC website for the latest on COVID-19.

Foundry’s Response to COVID-19:

Find out more about Foundry’s response by reading Report 2 (March 16 – December 31st, 2020) and Report 1 (March 16 – July 3rd, 2020).

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This page will be updated frequently as new information becomes available.

Last Updated: September 15, 2021