B.C. is moving into the third stage of reopening on Thursday, which means festivals and sports events will be allowed and a mask mandate in place for eight months will be downgraded to a recommendation.
Premier John Horgan said all key health indicators — case counts, hospitalizations and deaths — suggest it’s safe to move into the next phase. The province reported just 29 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, including three in Island Health.
“That means we can go and cheer for our kids at the soccer game, in the arena, in the gymnasium, we can go to a friend’s place for dinner, we can plan that wedding, we can go to the theatre, we can go to a concert, we can engage again,” Horgan said at a legislature press theatre that once again had reporters in the seats.
As of July 1, outdoor spectators are capped at 5,000 or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is greater, and indoor spectators are capped at 50 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is greater.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said orders are no longer necessary in many settings, replaced with restrictions and guidance.
The state of emergency will be lifted, but the public health emergency will remain in place.
“We’re not out of the woods by any means, and we’re going to continue to have adequate surveillance all across the province in making sure we’re following cases and following which strains of the virus people are being infected with,” said Henry. “But we also know when you have high rates of [vaccination] … that level of protection reduces your risk dramatically.”
Mask wearing will continue to be recommended in indoor public spaces for anyone age 12 and over who is not yet fully immunized, said Henry. “It is important for us to continue to wear masks in those indoor settings when we’re around people that we don’t know.”
Many people will also choose to continue to wear masks, said Henry, adding people need to proceed at their own pace and some are more vulnerable than others. There’s no need for people to provide proof of vaccination, she said.
Horgan said if he’s meeting people he doesn’t know, he’ll be wearing a mask — “if I’m on a bus, if I’m on a ferry, if I’m on an airplane — these are recommendations now, not directives.”
With the move to step three, personal indoor and outdoor gatherings at homes or vacation rentals will return to normal, sleepovers will be allowed, fitness classes can return to full capacity, and travel across Canada will be permitted.
All restrictions on religious worship services will be removed.
As of July 1, there are no group limits for indoor and outdoor dining, and liquor service will return to normal, although socializing between tables is not yet permitted in restaurants, said Henry.
For nightclubs, closed since last summer, up to 10 people can be seated at tables but dancing or socializing between tables is not allowed.
Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, said the reopening news has him feeling “very optimistic” for the industry. The idea that there could be 20,000 people in GM Place in Vancouver is exciting, he said.
Restaurants, pubs and bars will likely ease into the reopening, said Tostenson, with staff probably choosing to wear masks for at least the next few weeks as customer confidence grows. He does not expect customers will balk at the fact they can’t socialize between tables.
“I think the public want us to be easing into this in a way that they feel comfortable to regain their confidence,” he said.
Earning back the estimated $3.5-billion loss to the industry will be another challenge. Restaurants and pubs are still struggling to hire and bring back staff lost to other jobs during the pandemic, he said. Labour shortages will continue to force restaurants to rein in their menus and hours.
A two-metre distance between restaurant tables will no longer be a requirement, which he said is “awesome” news for many restaurants.
The final stage of reopening is set for Sept. 7.
