On May 6, 2020, the Province of British Columbia released a statement outlining the province’s expectations for the required criteria and measures that would need to be in place to restart the economy.
Stages for re-launch
Stage 1 – today
Essential Services Operating During COVID-19
- Essential health and health services
- Law enforcement, public safety, first responders and emergency response personnel
- Vulnerable population service providers
- Critical infrastructure
- Food and agriculture service providers
- Transportation
- Industry and manufacturing
- Sanitation
- Communications and information technology
- Financial institutions
- Other non-health essential service providers
Stage 2 – mid-May
Under enhanced protocols:
- Restoration of health services
- Re-scheduling elective surgery
- Medically related services:
- Dentistry, physiotherapy, registered massage therapy, and chiropractors
- Physical therapy, speech therapy, and similar services
- Retail sector
- Hair salons, barbers, and other personal service establishments
- In-person counselling
- Restaurants, cafes, and pubs (with sufficient distancing measures)
- Museums, art galleries, and libraries
- Office-based worksites
- Recreation and sports
- Parks, beaches, and outdoor spaces
- Child care
Stage 3 – June through September
If transmission rates remain low or in decline, under enhanced protocols:
- Hotels and Resorts (June 2020)
- Parks – broader reopening, including some overnight camping (June 2020)
- Film industry – beginning with domestic productions (June/July 2020)
- Select entertainment – movies and symphony, but not large concerts (July 2020)
- Post-secondary education – with mix of online and in-class (September 2020)
- K-12 education – with only a partial return this school year (September 2020)
Stage 4
Conditional on at least one of the following; wide vaccination, “community” immunity, broad successful treatments:
- Activities requiring large gatherings, such as:
- Conventions
- Live audience professional sports
- Concerts
- International tourism
The timing of a safe restart of night clubs, casinos and bars is a more complicated consideration. As with other sectors, industry associations will be expected to develop safe operations plans, for review, that are in keeping with Public Health and Safety Guidelines, as well as WorkSafeBC.
Additional information
The full guide released by the Province of British Columbia can be found here.