The next phase of British Columbia’s COVID-19 response will allow residents to host a small group of friends for dinner, getting a haircut, and play low-contact sports.
The plans unveiled will make it possible for a wide variety of businesses and services to reopen as early as mid-May, including pubs and restaurants, retail stores, salons and barbershops, museums, libraries, and art galleries.
They also promise to bring back elective surgeries and allow dentists, physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, speech therapists, and others in the health service sector to return to work.
Addressing the province, it has been acknowledged that relaxing the restrictions might make some people nervous, but the government will be ready to reverse course if COVID-19 cases start to spike again.
Although the relaxed restrictions will be welcomed by many, the government warned that it will not hesitate to tighten the rules again if the virus starts to spread too quickly.
As a way to keep the caseload low, health officials also issued a set of personal safety guidelines that reiterate much of the same advice they have been giving to the public since early March.
Physical distancing is still recommended when outside of the house and people are encouraged to continue washing their hands regularly, covering their mouths when coughing and avoid handshakes.
More importantly, it is important to stay home when even mildly sick, whether they are suffering symptoms of COVID-19, flu, or the common cold. This means not going to work, and not going to the grocery store if possible.
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https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200504-coronavirus-what-is-the-best-kind-of-face-mask
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-face-mask
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/cloth-face-coverings-information.pdf