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What you can do with B.C.’s Step 2

Travel in B.C., catch a movie, work out hard at the gym, attend church, and drink until midnight with friends in a restaurant – but keep your mask handy
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Tourist destinations like Steveston Village in Richmond will benefit as travel, dining restrictions lift.| Chung Chow

British Columbia began Step 2 of its restart plan June 15, opening doors to movie theatres and high-intensity fitness clubs, and adding traffic to ferries, planes and highways as travel restrictions end within the province, .

 Premier John Horgan said June 14 that the province is “on the right track to meet all of our milestones for the restart plans.”

B.C. Ferries will no longer be asking passengers whether their trip is essential. Vessels are federally regulated under Transport Canada which continues to mandate face coverings and physical distancing while on board ferries, which means anywhere indoors or outdoors when not in your vehicle. But masks are now optional at outdoor areas of terminals.

Each stage of the four-part reopening depends on more people receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, decreasing case counts, hospitalizations and deaths, and if variants are kept in check.

Until at least July 1, masks will still be mandatory at indoor public places, and business safety protocols and physical-distancing requirements will remain in place.

Just over 75 per cent of adults in B.C. have had at least one vaccine dose; 65 per cent was one of the benchmarks for easing restrictions.

Capacities for indoor faith gatherings increase to 50 people or 10 per cent of larger places of worship, whichever number is greater. “This means if your location has a capacity for 1,000 people, you could have up to 100 people now in an indoor worship service,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Up to 50 people are permitted in restaurants, and liquor service is allowed until midnight rather than 10 p.m. “The big change for us will be going back to be able to have 50-person events in restaurants and restaurants being open and serve to midnight. Those two will make a big difference,” said Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association.

 

WHAT’S ALLOWED AS OF JUNE 15

PERSONAL GATHERINGS:

• Outdoor personal gatherings up to 50 people (birthday parties, backyard BBQs, block parties).

• Indoor personal gatherings up to five people or one other household. Indoor gathering restrictions haven’t changed and people are urged to keep them small.

ORGANIZED EVENTS

• Indoor seated organized gatherings up to 50 people with a COVID-19 safety plan.

TRAVEL

• Travel restrictions within the province are lifted.

• Recreational travel allowed within B.C.

• B.C. Transit and B.C. Ferries can offer increased service as needed.

• Out-of-province non-essential travel restriction continues.

BUSINESSES

• Liquor service extended to midnight from 10 p.m.

• Banquet halls can operate with limited capacity under a COVID-19 safety plan.

WORKPLACES

• Continued return to the workplace.

• Small, in-person meetings allowed.

SPORTS AND EXERCISE

• Indoor high-intensity group exercise allowed with reduced capacity.

• Indoor games and practices allowed for adult and youth group/team sports.

• Up to 50 spectators allowed at outdoor events.

• Spectators are still not allowed at any indoor sport activities.