The B.C. government will announce details about the next step in its reopening plan Monday.
B.C. Premier John Horgan will speak along with Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon, Health Minister Adrian Dix, Tourism Minister Melanie Mark, and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry at 10:30 a.m.
As previously outlined by the province, Step 2 in the reopening plan would go into effect on June 15 at the earliest. It will see B.C.’s current non-essential travel ban between select health authorities lifted, maximum allowable outdoor and indoor gathering sizes increased and limited crowds once again able to attend outdoor sporting events.
That means recreational travel would once again be allowed in the province, with Vancouver Islanders able to take a ferry to the Lower Mainland for a shopping trip while the island could once again see an influx of campers from out of the Island Health region.
The province has previously said its minimum criteria for moving to Step 2 would be at least 65 per cent of the eligible adult population vaccinated with one dose along with declining case counts and hospitalizations.
On May 25, when Step 1 of the reopening plan was announced, the province reported 3,782 active cases in the province and 301 people in hospital — 93 of whom were in intensive care.
Currently, there are 1,880 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 162 people in hospital and 45 people in critical care. More than 75 per cent of adult British Columbians have received at least one dose of vaccine.
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