"We can engage again in what makes life so important."
Those are the words of Premier John Horgan, who announced June 29 that B.C. will move into Step 3 of the four-step restart plan on July 1.
"British Columbians have stepped up at every stage throughout this pandemic," said Horgan. "We've helped our neighbours stay safe, we've sacrificed time with friends and family and we have diligently registered to get vaccinated. We've now reached a point in our vaccination efforts when we can begin to remove restrictions.
"Let's continue to respect everyone's comfort level as we safely take another step toward putting this pandemic behind us."
The provincial state of emergency will be lifted on June 30 at midnight, but Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry cautioned that the "public health emergency will remain in place."
In Step 3, British Columbians may now enjoy "normal" indoor and outdoor gatherings. Previously, the maximum number of people in a private indoor setting was five people or one other household.
The maximum capacity for indoor organized gatherings is 50 people or up to 50 per cent of a venue's total capacity, whichever is greater. For outdoor organized gatherings, there may be up to 5,000 people or up to 50 per cent of a venue's total capacity.
Provincial officials also said there will be a return "fairs, festivals, and trade show," with health and safety plans in place, of course.
Moving from Step 2 to Step 3 includes:
- return to normal for indoor and outdoor personal gatherings;
- maximum capacity for indoor organized gatherings of 50 people or up to 50% of a venue's total capacity, whichever is greater;
- maximum capacity for outdoor organized gatherings of 5,000 people or up to 50% of a venue's total capacity, whichever is greater;
- return to normal for fairs, festivals and trade shows, with communicable disease plans;
Photo via Government of B.C.A note on gatherings: Dr. Bonnie Henry
Henry said Tuesday that British Columbians should feel optimistic about moving into the next step in the province's restart plan. However, she cautioned that not everyone will want to move forward at the same pace and that people must continue to be kind and compassionate to each other.
"This is a very positive step as orders are only put in place when there's an urgent and critical need to do," she said.
"But everybody needs to move at their own pace in this as well."
With people that you know, Henry said the risk is lower because you know their vaccination status. "We can invite people into our home based on our risk and the risk of those around us and my friends and family."
Indoor gatherings may now host 50 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is larger. "So if your venue is one that holds a capacity of 60 people, then you can have 50. If it's a venue that has 500 people, then 50 per cent capacity would be 250," she said.
The four-step restart plan was designed based on data and guidance from the public health team led by Henry and the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). Progressing to each step of the plan will be measured by the number of people vaccinated, COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations and deaths and other key public health metrics.
