Annie He/Edge columnist
On February 16, BC health officials lifted most COVID-19 restrictions, including indoor and outdoor organized gatherings. Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, sports centers, weddings, and funerals may resume with full capacity as long as attendees wear masks and BC vaccine cards are used. It is time for people to enjoy their lives again, and lifting restrictions is the right action based on updated facts.
COIVD-19 is gradually losing its impact on people, and cancelling the restrictions can make people feel less tense. New cases presented in everyday life, but happily, the number of infections plummeted from January 4, 11861 new cases per day, to February 18, with only 692 cases, based on the data “Coronavirus disease statistic” from JHU CSSE COVID-19 Data.
BC Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry said COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to fall, and severe illness from the virus has been mitigated by vaccines, according to the article “BC lifts most COVID-19 restrictions as long as masks and vaccine cards are used” by Courtney Dickson, CBC news.
Most people have been vaccinated to protect personal safety and promote the regular functioning of society. According to the “Covid-19 pandemic update” by BC Gov news, on February 18, around 90% of eligible people in BC have received their first and second dose, and more than 53% people have received their booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Lifting the restrictions may also push more unvaccinated people to be willing to get the shots.
With the lowering impact of the virus and high vaccination rate, individuals should not be limited by something that puts them at small risk and affects the overall situation. COVID-19 makes business and economy unstable; most restaurants or industries lose the resources and decrease the customers, so lifting limitation would greatly benefit recovering current status. It is also a relief and hope for many workers after a long, uncertain future and repeated closures of businesses.
This right decision would not put most people in danger; instead, businesses and individuals can move forward at their own pace while having a relaxed, lively, and untrammelled lifestyle. According to the article “First weekend of eased COVID-19 restrictions in BC busy for nightlife venues, police” by Maria Weisgarber, CTV news, “There was an energy that we had lost for a long, long time, after 23 months of difficult and trying times, it was nice to see some stress-free people, happy, engaging, dancing for the first time,” said Darlene Rigoco, Fox Cabaret manager and co-owner.
People should go back to normal life and also believe in their government. After thoughtful and careful discussion, there are always reasons behind why the officials make the decision they make. It is imperative to learn to coexist with the virus because it is ever-changing to adapt to the environment and never disappear. People can only accept and not let the virus influence the common operating. As long as we take reasonable protective measurements, we can be safe and comfortable even the restrictions are lifted.
Sources:
B.C. lifts most COVID-19 restrictions as long as masks and vaccine cards are used
First weekend of eased COVID-19 restrictions in B.C. busy for nightlife venues, police B.C. lifting many COVID-19 restrictions for the vaccinated only