BC TAKES BIG LEAP FORWARD ON JULY 1

Some great news for businesses around BC, as the province just announced that it will be advancing to ‘Step 3’ of its four-phase ‘Restart Plan’ on July 1.

As @viawesome Managing Editor Lindsay William-Ross explained in her coverage of the press conference announcing the Step 3 details, “there will be no provincial public health orders restricting how many people may be seated in a party at all restaurants, pubs, and bars,” which marks a change in restrictions first put in place over a year ago.

The cap on group seating at restaurants was first implemented in the province back in May 2020, when businesses were permitted to re-open following a full ban on indoor dining implemented two months prior at the onset of the pandemic in BC. While in Step 2, which began June 15, public health orders were amended to allow liquor sales at restaurants to go until midnight, Step 3 removes all restrictions and returns liquor sales to normal for licensed B.C. establishments.

During Step 3, businesses will gradually transition to new communicable disease plans, with guidelines for these plans released by WorkSafeBC on June 28, according to the B.C. government.

Not changing will be the restrictions on socializing between tables, which will also be a rule for nightclubs, which will be able to re-open, with seated parties of up to 10 permitted as of July 1. Henry says details of what will be permitted has been discussed among leaders in the sector, and will include things like distancing measures and barriers.

We’re not out of the woods yet, but some very welcome news for small and independent business owners around BC.

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