Are you excited about Canada-wide travel?
While locals eagerly anticipated provincial travel for several months, B.C.'s four-step "restart" plan calls for country-wide travel in a matter of days.
As long as everything goes according to plan, provincial officials will give the green light to travellers who have their hopes set on flights outside B.C., effective July 1.
But eased travel restrictions aren't the only thing British Columbians will get to enjoy if the province moves into Step 3.
People may enjoy a "return to usual for indoor and outdoor personal gatherings" rather than the cap of five people or one other household. There will also be increased capacity at both indoor and outdoor organized gatherings and there will be no group limit for indoor and outdoor dining, just to name a few of the eased restrictions.
In the daily coronavirus press briefing on Monday (June 28), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters that "things are looking really good in terms of going to Step 3." However, she stopped short of saying that the province will move into the next step on Thursday.
"We'll have an announcement about that very soon," she said.
'Let's make this the summer of hope and rejuvenation, for all of us'
While B.C. health officials are optimistic about the months ahead, the restart plan is contingent on an increasing rate of vaccination in the province as well as decreasing daily cases of COVID-19.
"We know that these vaccines are providing protection," noted Henry. "And to make this a summer we all can enjoy, we need to make sure that as many people as possible are protected — and then we'll monitor to make sure that this protection is long-lasting."
To start the summer off, Henry encouraged British Columbians to ensure they get vaccinated and that their families get vaccinated, too. She also emphasized the importance of booking a second appointment.
While COVID-19 will continue to be a part of our lives, Henry added that "it's not going to be in a way that's disrupting our lives, like it has for the last 18 months."
"And as we reach to these brighter days of summer, let's make this the summer of hope and rejuvenation, for all of us.
"Let's enjoy the warm days with safe social interactions and let's give everyone the best protection possible by ensuring we all get fully immunized with both doses as soon as we are eligible."
