British Columbia will be moving to Stage 3 of its COVID-91 restart plan on Canada Day, Premier John Horgan announced on Tuesday.
The move means mask wearing in indoor public spaces will go from being mandatory to recommended for everyone aged 12 and up who isn't fully vaccinated. In addition, casinos and nightclubs will be allowed to reopen with safety plans in place, B.C. will welcome tourists from across Canada, there will be no restrictions on indoor and outdoor personal gatherings, fewer restrictions for restaurants and pubs, and new larger limits on organized indoor and outdoor gatherings.
"British Columbians have stepped up, stepped up in every way," Horgan said. "To British Columbians, thank you for thinking of each other as we got through this."
The new rules will mean people can back to the activities that bring people together, like concerts and the theatre, he said.
For organized indoor events, venues will be allowed to have up to 50 people or 50 per cent of the venue capacity, whichever is higher. For outdoor events, 5,000 people or 50 per cent of the venue capacity, whichever is higher, will be allowed.
In addition, fairs, trade shows and festivals will be allowed to return to normal, with disease prevent measures in place.
Restaurants and pubs will be able to return to normal liquor service hours, and there will be no limits on the number of people at a single table – however, socializing between tables will still not be allowed.
Sports, indoor fitness classes and activities will be allowed to return to normal, as will religious services.
The return to a situation closer to normal is possible because 77 per cent of British Columbians over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 29.5 per cent are now fully vaccinated, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said.
"Vaccination, the safe and effective vaccines we have in Canada and B.C., have really been a game changer," Henry said. "We have seen a dramatic and sustained declined in new cases."
Health Minister Adrian Dix said likely sometime on Wednesday morning, someone will roll up their sleeve and receive the five-millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine delivered in the province.
The provincial government will be dropping the state of emergency, although the public health emergency continues as cases continue to spread around the world, she said.
"As more people are coming into B.C., we know some people will be coming with the virus," Henry said. "Not every community is ready for visitors, but many, many are."
Henry and Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Minister Ravi Kahlon urged people to be understanding of both businesses and individuals which will continue to keep COVID-safety measures like masks in place.
"It's been a long 18 months," Henry said. "Some individuals and some businesses will be moving more slowly. We are turning up the dial slowly, but things are a lot brighter today."
Only 29 new cases of COVID-19 were reported throughout the province on Tuesday, none of which were in the Northern Health region, a statement issued by Henry and Dix said.
This story will be updated with the latest statistics from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control about the Northern Health region when they are available.
