B.C. set to announce next steps in restart plan

British Columbia seems poised to relax public health measures imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 today as it seeks to have the province fully reopened soon after Labour Day.

Premier John Horgan, a slew of his cabinet ministers and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will hold a news conference to announce the next steps in B.C.'s plan to safely restart the province.

Horgan announced a four-step plan last month he says could allow residents to attend live concerts, watch indoor sports events and leave their masks off by September 7.

Last month's reopening efforts started with relaxed restrictions on gatherings, sports events and both indoor and outdoor dining.

Step 2 of the plan indicates today's announcement could signal the lifting of provincewide travel restrictions, the return of high-intensity indoor fitness classes and the extension of liquor service hours to midnight.

Horgan has previously said that B.C.'s strong immunization rate is bringing the province back to normal, but the extent of reopening will depend on COVID-19 case data.