The province is continuing along its restart plan as case numbers continue their downward slide across B.C. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

PHASE TWO

Restrictions on travel, social gatherings and leisure activities ease

Jun 14, 2021 | 10:38 AM

NANAIMO — B.C. is shifting into the second phase of its COVID-19 restart plan.

Effective Tuesday, June 15, indoor, organized gatherings of up to 50 people are permitted with an appropriate COVID-19 safety plan. Outdoor gatherings of the same size are also allowed, with less oversight.

“This means we’re going to be seeing more people that we care about, visiting more places that we want to go and see and we’ll be safely celebrating the major milestones that we’ve missed over the last 15 months,” Premier John Horgan said on Monday.

Outdoor gatherings, such as weddings, will also be afforded more flexibility with participants not needing to be seated.

Informal indoor gatherings, such as household visits or play dates for children are still restricted to five people or one household.

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The province is also rescinding its non-essential travel restrictions, opening up visits across B.C. It is expected limitations on travel country-wide will be removed on Canada Day.

Nanaimo RCMP confirmed to NanaimoNewsNOW officers had issued two tickets for non-essential travel since restrictions were implemented in April.

The province has outlined its restart plan, a course to get B.C. back to normal by September 2021. (BC Government)

High-intensity indoor fitnesses classes can also resume at a reduced capacity, while up to 50 spectators are allowed at outdoor sporting events.

The hospitality sector will also receive a boost, with liquor service extended two hours to midnight and banquet halls allowed to reopen to limited capacity under approved safety plans.

Faith gatherings are also permitted to resume to a minimum of 50 people or ten per cent of the capacity in a building, whichever is greater.

Masks remain mandated indoors, however the province is eyeing a removal of this direction in the coming weeks.

The next step in B.C.’s re-open plan is due by July 1, provided case counts continue their steady decline and vaccination rates continue to pace above average.

The wait between a first and second dose was reduced to eight weeks in late May, from 16, assuming supply is maintained from Pfizer/Biontech, Moderna and Astrazeneca.

“The goal is to get an invite out to people be week six to seven (after first dose), so they can be immunized around week eight or nine,” Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said.

She noted most places in B.C. are averaging a week between booking an appointment and receiving a second dose, however some population centres where vaccine uptake is high are seeing longer waits.

Public health recorded 890 cases the day non-essential travel restrictions were implemented on Friday, Apr. 23. Daily case increases had dropped to 253 when the province announced its restart plan on Tuesday, May 25.

On Friday, B.C. posted 180 new cases including eight in Island Health.

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