By Canadian Press

More COVID-19 restrictions could ease next week in British Columbia: premier

Jun 17, 2020 | 5:12 PM

VICTORIA — It will likely be next week before British Columbia further eases restrictions in place to fight COVID-19, Premier John Horgan says.

He said Wednesday he’s waiting for modelling numbers next week updating the status of COVID-19 infections before announcing whether the province is ready to move to the next phase of its restart plan.

“I’m hopeful at that time we can move to full implementation of phase three of the recovery plan, which would include more travel throughout B.C.,” Horgan said at a news conference. 

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said phase three of the government’s reopening plan includes film and television productions, movie theatres, spas, hotels, resorts, and overnight camping in parks and travel.

Henry said earlier this week she is pleased with the results of B.C.’s reopening for schools and some businesses, including restaurants, hair salons, dentist offices and physiotherapy clinics. Schools have been open on reduced schedules for students since June 1 and the salons, restaurants and clinics reopened on May 19

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B.C. announced 19 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the total to 2,775. The death toll remained at 168 and 2,422 people who tested positive for the virus have recovered.

Horgan also announced several online participation platforms, including surveys and virtual town hall meetings, to encourage people to have their say on the province’s recovery plans.

He said the six-week survey period will allow people to share their ideas, experiences and priorities.

“Everyone says, ‘How can I help?’ I want to take advantage of that,” said Horgan. “Our success has been a result of people coming together, recognizing that regardless of where we live, regardless of our economic status, people had to take COVID-19 on together as individuals, as a community and as a province.”

The province announced a $5 billion pandemic plan in March, which included $1.5 billion for recovery efforts.

Horgan said the survey period does not stall current plans and initiatives to spur economic recovery.

“Absolutely, not slowing down anything,” he said. “We’re inviting British Columbians to tell us what they think.”

Finance Minister Carole James said COVID-19 has battered the B.C. economy and recovery will be difficult.

“Rebuilding our economy is going to be a massive job, but we are starting from a place of strength with a great many advantages,” she said.

B.C.’s service sector has been hardest hit during the pandemic, posting 90 per cent of the estimated 314,000 lost jobs since March, said James. She said up to 60 per cent of the people who lost jobs in the service sector are women and B.C.’s youth unemployment rate is 29 per cent.

James said the province must rely and build on its strengths of research, innovation, entrepreneurship and its natural environment and resources to come back from the pandemic.

“We haven’t lost those inherent strengths in our province and through this recovery we have the opportunities to build on them,” she said.  

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2020.

Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press