BC’s Restart Plan

BC’s Restart A four-step plan to bring B.C. back together will be a slow and gradual return to a more normal life, with safety and health protocols such as mask wearing and physical distancing remaining in place and mandatory during the initial two steps of the plan.

The four-step plan was designed based on data and guidance from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.͛s provincial health officer (PHO). Progressing through the steps will be measured by the number of adults vaccinated, COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations and deaths, taking into account clusters and outbreaks. While there are approximate dates, the plan will be guided by data, not dates, and will not proceed to the next step until it is safe to do so based on guidance from public health and the latest available data.

The step-by-step plan will follow approximate timelines and will ease people and businesses slowly out of the pandemic. The four steps are:

Step 1: May 25

  • 60% of adult population with Dose 1
  • COVID-19 cases stable, hospitalizations stable.
    • Maximum of five visitors or one household allowed for indoor personal gatherings
    • Maximum of 10 people for outdoor personal gatherings
    • Maximum of 10 people for seated indoor organized gatherings with safety protocols
    • Maximum of 50 people for seated outdoor organized protocols with safety protocols
    • Recreational travel only within travel region (travel restrictions extended)
    • Indoor and outdoor dining for up to six people with safety protocols
    • Resume outdoor sports (games) with no spectators, low-intensity fitness with safety protocols
    • Start gradual return to workplace
    • Provincewide mask mandate, business safety protocols and physical distancing measures remain in place
    • Return of indoor in-person faith-based gatherings (reduced capacity) based on consultation with public health

Step 2: Mid-June (June 15- earliest date)

  • 65% of adult population with Dose 1
  • Cases declining, COVID-19 hospitalizations declining
    • Maximum of 50 people for outdoor social gatherings
    • Maximum of 50 people for seated indoor organized gatherings (banquet halls, movie theatres, live theatre) with safety protocols
    • Consultation process to prepare for larger indoor and outdoor gatherings with safety protocols
    • No B.C. travel restrictions- check local travel advisories
    • Indoor sports (games) and high-intensity fitness with safety protocols
    • Spectators for outdoor sports (50 maximum)
    • Provincewide mask mandate, business safety protocols and physical distancing measures remain in place

Step 3: Early July (July 1- earliest date)

  • 70% of adult population with Dose 1
  • Cases low, COVID-19 hospitalizations declining
    • Provincial state of emergency and public health emergency lifted
    • Returning to usual for indoor and outdoor personal gatherings
    • Increased capacity for indoor and outdoor organized gatherings, with safety plans
    • Nightclubs and casinos reopened with capacity limits and safety plans
    • New public health and workplace guidance around personal protective equipment, physical distancing and business protocols

Step 4: Early September (Sept. 7- earliest date)

  • More than 70% of adult population with Dose 1
  • Cases low and stable (contained clusters), COVID-19 hospitalizations low
    • Returning to normal social contact
    • Increased capacity at larger organized gatherings
    • No limits on indoor and outdoor spectators at sports
    • Businesses operating with new safety plans

*In-class K-12 education will continue to operate under existing safety protocols for steps 1 and 2. In preparation for the return to classes in the fall, the COVID-19 education steering committee will work with public health officials to update safety guidelines.

*The Province is formally extending the provincial state of emergency through the end of the day on June 8, 2021, allowing health and emergency management officials to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the Province’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The original declaration was made on March 18, 2020, the day after Henry declared a public health emergency, and can be extended for periods of up to 14 days at a time.

*Provincial travel restrictions will continue to be enforced until Step 2 of the four-step plan.

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