Posted by:
Nightingale
(
)
Date: September 09, 2021 04:28PM
We don't have medical or religious exemptions in B.C. at the moment. A proof-of-vaccine card program is being implemented now and within a week or so, unvaccinated people will not be able to enter "non-essential" businesses and services. They will be able to access those designated as "essential" such as medical centres and food shops - however, masks are mandatory in those facilities. Therefore, you can decline the vaccines but not the mask-wearing unless you can get along without any of the above - perhaps someone can do your shopping for you.
However, unvaccinated folks can attend religious services (I guess they're designated as essential?) However, mask-wearing is mandated for those, as far as I know.
The bottom line is to try to accommodate people's needs and beliefs and vaccine status while attempting to keep spread of the virus to an absolute minimum as far as is humanly possible.
One important point that is not stressed enough, imho, is that the measures and restrictions are meant to be temporary. If the case numbers decline and stay low then Public Health can gradually ease up on the restrictions.
I don't see how people can reasonably argue with this approach (but some will, I know).
Here's an outline in a CTV News article, August 24, 2021:
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/no-medical-or-religious-exemptions-for-b-c-s-vaccine-passport-system-1.5558423Excerpts:
"People who can't get vaccinated against COVID-19 for medical reasons won't be exempt from B.C.’s upcoming vaccine passport system, nor will those who choose not to get immunized for religious reasons.
"Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who announced the requirement Monday afternoon, said those individuals will have to miss out on discretionary services and activities, such as dining in restaurants and attending live sporting events, until the proof-of-vaccination requirement is lifted next year.
"This is a temporary measure that's getting us through a risky period where we know people who are unvaccinated are at a greater risk, both of contracting and spreading this virus," Henry said Monday.
"Those rare people who have a medical reason why they can't be immunized … they will not be able to attend those events during this period."
"The same goes for people who refuse to get immunized because of a religious conviction, though officials noted the passport system does not apply to worship services.
"We've worked really closely with faith-based groups across the province over this past very long year-and-a-half, and we have in place guidelines that they are using to help support faith-based services coming back," Henry said."
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NB: The language has changed, as I noted yesterday. They're calling it a vaccine card now (not passport or certificate or pass) to keep it benign I guess. There was a negative reaction from some to the 'passport' designation.
Again, it's a temporary measure to try and reduce infection rates in the midst of a pandemic in the upcoming winter season. To those who complain about restrictions, I have one word: Eyam.
Eyam was the village in England that had to resort to a complete lockdown to avoid spreading the bubonic plague (Black Death) to surrounding areas. Every resident in the village died. They sacrificed themselves for the good of others, including strangers.
*That* is loving (caring for) your neighbour.
And no. Nobody's asking us to do anything approaching that level of self-sacrifice.
We've got it good in comparison. (Understatement)
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Interesting article from the BBC (April 2020) re the plague, Eyam, and COVID-19:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-51904810Excerpts:
"When plague arrived in Eyam on a bundle of cloth from London, no-one could have foreseen the ordeal that lay ahead.
"[After the self-imposed shutdown] The following 14 months were characterised by death and disease, sacrifice and sorrow. The village's story has gone on to become part of English history as a symbol of selflessness.
"Dr Didelot said: "The importance of person-to-person infection showed isolation was the right thing to do. By staying within the confines of their community, the inhabitants of Eyam did indeed stem the spread of the epidemic, albeit at a tragic cost to themselves."
"It is moving to think that the unimaginable sacrifice the villagers made benefited not just those communities nearby at the time, but is still benefiting the wider world now."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2021 04:31PM by Nightingale.