Victoria, B.C (WNews) – On Tuesday, British Columbia launched a restart plan laying out a post-COVID-19 pandemic life. The four phase plans cover the safe reopening of B.C Economy.
Social gatherings
Effective Tuesday, a social gathering indoors can take place with one other household or up to five visitors. Outdoor personal gatherings of up to 10 people are also allowed.
By June 15, outdoor personal gatherings will go up to 50 people, though indoor ones will remain at up to five visitors.
Playdates for kids will be allowed.
The goal is to return to normal for indoor or outdoor personal gatherings by July 1 and an encouragement to have sleepovers.
Large events including limited religious services will be allowed as early as July 1 if cases continue to drop with safety precautions in place.
Religious Services
Places of worship can reopen in phase 2 with up to 50 registered for services.
In phase 3, increase gatherings will be allowed for religious gatherings and other events.
Phase 4, churches are expected to resume services as before the pandemic was declared with safety precautions in place.
Mask Mandates
The mask mandates will continue until July 1 at the earliest when masks will be recommended.
In phase 4, masks will be up to the person.
Office and Workplace
Office and workers will be allowed to continue work in the office by July 1 at the earliest with precautionary measures in place.
Travel
Starting June 15, British Columbians will be encouraged to travel across the province. Until then, people are urged to stay in their health region.
As of July 1 at the earliest, the province will open up to recreational travel across Canada.
Sports and Recreation
Outdoor recreational sports are now back on for adults and kids. Low-intensity indoor fitness classes can also restart.
High-intensity indoor fitness classes are expected on June 15 at the earliest. Indoor team sports are back in the same time frame, with up to 50 fans allowed for outdoor sports.
All indoor fitness classes are set for July 1 at the earliest with limited indoor spectators.
Movie theatres are expected to open as early as June 15 if the province is on track with cases and vaccinations, with up to 50 people allowed in the theatre.
Concerts, Casinos & Pro Sports
On July 1, the province is hoping to open casinos, bingo halls and nightclubs with limited capacity. They will operate based on safety plans.
B.C. aims to hold concerts and professional sporting events by Sept. 7 at the earliest.
This will be based on safety plans that will be established closer to the events taking place.
Fans will be expected at BC Lions’ games in the fall and the Vancouver Canucks’ return in September or October.
Starting right now, you can dine with anyone indoors or outdoors at a restaurant at a table of up to six people. Liquor can be served until 10 p.m.
If vaccination levels continue to rise and cases to decline, liquor will be served until midnight. Officials said work will be done to ease more restrictions.
The eventual plan, with cases still under control and low, is to have no limits on group sizes for indoor or outdoor dining.
