The province is not only moving into the third stage of its reopening plan but will also emerge from orders and restrictions that have been in place for months—and experience numerous changes from what has been the norm for much of the pandemic.

B.C. Premier John Horgan; provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry; Health Minister Adrian Dix; and Jobs, Economic Recovery, and Innovation Minister Ravi Kahlon held a news conference today to announce the changes.

Reflecting the province’s progress in reducing case counts and increasing immunizations, media was present in person at the news conference for the first time in over a year.

B.C.’s longest-running provincial state of emergency, which was originally declared on March 16, 2020, and repeatedly extended, will finally be lifted at 11:59 p.m. on June 30.

The provincial public health emergency, originally declared by Henry on March 15, 2020, will remain in place during Step 3.

Henry said that many of the health orders will be rescinded in Step 3.

“This is a very positive step as orders are only put in place when there’s an urgent and critical need to do so,” Henry explained.

Mask wearing is no longer mandatory but Henry said “that doesn’t mean mask wearing is not important—it certainly is”. Mask wearing is recommended in indoor public spaces or when around strangers for all people 12 years and above who are not yet fully vaccinated (or 14 days after the second dose).

Businesses

Kahlon announced that businesses will no longer be required to COVID-19 safety plans and said “this will be a big shift” for everyone involved.

Instead, WorkSafeBC will release new communicable disease plans on June 28, which businesses will transition to.

Physical barriers at many business and retail settings will remain in use but capacity limits, formal health screening tests, directional arrows, and physical distancing measures will no longer be mandatory (though they can be used as needed).

Kalon also said that casinos and nightclubs will reopen—“for the first time in 16 months”—with limitations.

Casinos will reopen with reduced capacities, with a maximum of 50 percent of gaming stations open.

Nightclubs can operate with up to 10 people seated at tables, but socializing between tables and dancing won’t be permitted.

Liquor service at restaurants, bars, and pubs will return to normal. Table limits at these venues will be determined by venue and socializing won’t be allowed between tables.

Gatherings

Indoor and outdoor personal gatherings will return to normal.

The maximum capacity for indoor organized gatherings is 50 people or up to 50 percent of a venue's total capacity (whichever is greater).

The maximum capacity for outdoor organized gatherings is 5,000 people or up to 50 percent of a venue's total capacity (whichever is greater).

Fairs, festivals, and trade shows, with communicable disease plans, will return to normal.

Sports and exercise facilities can return to normal with communicable disease plans in place.

Henry also said that she is removing all restrictions on religious worship services but ensuring safety plans are in place.

Travel

B.C. will return to Canada-wide recreational travel, and will be allowing vaccinated visitors from outside the province to visit.

Henry, however, reminded people to consider that they are bringing “risk” with them and that there is a chance that some people may come with the virus, including various strains.

But she encouraged everyone to do research and preparation before visiting, and to be respectful in small, rural, and Indigenous communities and respect local travel advisories.

More information about travel is available at the B.C. government website.

Enforcement

The COVID-19 Related Measures Act became effective as of July 10, 2020.

Under this act, police and other enforcement officials will be able to issue tickets to anyone violating Gatherings and Events or Food and Liquor Premises public health orders, including fines for anyone who is abusive or belligerent about public health order requirements.

COVID-19 updates

Dix said he and Henry have been holding B.C. COVID-19 updates in person since January 2020.

He said that they won’t be holding regular briefings any more but will provide written briefings this week and will provide “new ways to distribute, in a timely way to media, appropriate information about COVID-19” next week.

He reassured that COVID-19 information will still be distributed, but just in a different form. (For today's B.C. COVID-19 update, see this article.)

He said both he and Henry will be available to answer questions but expressed gratitude on behalf of Henry for all she has done during the pandemic and the remaining days of the pandemic still to come.

The earliest date that Step 4 can begin—which will include normal social contact resuming, full capacities for all organized gatherings, and fully reopened workplaces—is September 7.

Full details about the provincial reopening is available at the B.C. Restart Plan website.