Okanagan resident Toni Nicholls' daughter at Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, March, 2022.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Toni Nicholls

The recent lifting of the mask mandate is causing some residents to breathe a sigh of relief while creating anxiety for others. 

Provincial health officials announced that masks would no longer be mandatory in most public indoor spaces as of Friday, March 11.

READ MORE: B.C. to ease COVID-19 restrictions on masks, long-term care visits, vaccine cards

For some people living with compromised immune systems and their families, the removal of protective mask barriers is adding to their stress and leaving them feeling more frightened and socially limited. 

Lake Country mom Toni Nicholls and her three-year-old daughter are staying at Ronald McDonald House as her daughter undergoes rounds of chemotherapy and radiation to fight an aggressive bone cancer.

“I don’t know what would happen if she got COVID-19 right now,” Nicholls said. “I’m sure it would be devastating. She is in the midst of intense high dose chemo and bone marrow transplant treatments and is very fragile right now.

“Every part of her body is already working harder than it should. Adding a respiratory virus on top, of any sort, could be potentially catastrophic.”

Nicholls said the removal of the mask mandate has her feeling terrified. The pair is limiting shopping and other outings because she feels less safe.

“I know that the lifting of the mask mandate will also make people not as careful with social distancing and sanitizing as well,” she said. “It creates a false facade that the pandemic is over and everything is ok, when there are so many that are at such a high risk still. I just hope that there is kindness and everyone still respects giving space, not making passing judgement at those making decisions that best affect their loved ones.”

READ MORE: Kelowna family needs help getting proper diagnosis for chronically ill baby

Nicholls will continue to order groceries online for delivery. With the weather getting warmer, she plans to enjoy more time outside in bigger areas, but will be avoiding busy parks and play areas.

“Ronald McDonald House and the hospital will still implement the mandates so we feel comfortable with that,” she said.

Kamloops resident, Trinity Halliday, is currently winning her fight against cancer. After a year-long battle and more tests in the future, she is cancer free. But her body is still weak from the disease and chemotherapy, leaving her with a poor immune system.

“Chemotherapy kills the good and the bad cells, it kills your immune system,” she said. “My oncologist says it is going to take time to build it back up."

Halliday said with people in the public already mask free, she is choosing to stay home as much as possible, even putting off her return to work. She has family members helping do most of her errands for her.

“I am supposed to be gradually getting back into public spaces to start rebuilding my defense system,” she said. “But having people standing beside me when I use the ATM not wearing masks gives me the jitters. I just don’t think my body is strong enough to handle a respiratory virus yet.”

Halliday will continue wearing her mask, sanitizing and taking what precautions she can.

“If others judge me for wearing a mask I’ll have to ignore it,” she said. “All I can do is protect myself and others. For people like me, it is not worth taking chances.”

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