No new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Northern Health region on Thursday.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the total number of cases in north since the beginning of the pandemic remained at 54. Across B.C., 33 news cases were reported, bringing the province's total since the start of the pandemic to 2,288.
Across B.C., 76 people were hospitalized from COVID-19, including three in the Northern Health region, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said. Of those in hospital in B.C., 20 patients were in critical care.
A total of 1,512 people in B.C. have fully recovered from COVID-19. According to statistics released by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control on Wednesday, as of that day 46 people in northern B.C. had fully recovered.
"Yesterday the premier outlined the B.C. Restart Plan. We are now in phase one and continue to be in phase one. We'll be ready to move to phase two after the May long weekend," Henry said. "It's still necessary to maintain physical distancing. What I want people to think about is starting small."
While people can start thinking about expanding their social circle, it should be done carefully and in a limited fashion – especially for those who are vulnerable or are in contact with people who are vulnerable, she said.
"Our mantra for the next little while is, 'few faces and big spaces,'" Henry said.
Getting together outside is typically safer than inside, she added.
On May 19, the province will move to phase two of the restart plan, which will allow a number of businesses and public amenities currently closed to reopen, Henry said. Between now and then, industry groups and public health officials will be working on how those things can be done safely, while complying with public health orders.
"We need to have a slow and thoughtful restart. We do not expect that on one day we'll reopen and be back to normal," Henry said. "For businesses... we are going to outline specific requirements. Template plans and checklists will be developed. Businesses will have to decide for themselves how they can meet those requirements."
Individual businesses will not be required to submit their COVID-19 plan for review, but they will have to be posted publicly for customers and employees to see, she said.
"There will be proactive inspections... but there will also be a complaint-based system (of enforcement,)" she said. "I believe most businesses will do the right thing."
But don't expect gatherings of more than 50 people, including concerts, festivals, large sporting events with live audiences, etc. to return soon, Henry said.
"There is nobody around the world who is talking about having mass-gatherings in this environment. I don't see it happening this year," Henry said. "These are some of the events where infections can really take off. We've had 87 people in B.C. alone infected from (one) large conference."
While B.C. plans to continue to work through its Restart Plan, public health officials are already bracing for a possible second wave in September during cold and flu season, she said.
"In terms of a second wave, we don't know. The optimist in me hopes there isn't a second wave," Henry said. "(But) every other pandemic in recorded history has at least two waves, sometimes more."
