Stage 1
If efforts to control the spread of the virus are effected, so that hospitals and intensive care units can deal with the caseload, the province will move to Stage 1, based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
In Stage 1, some businesses and facilities could be allowed to gradually resume operations early as May 14, including
- Retail businesses, such as clothing, furniture and bookstores. All vendors at farmers markets will also be able to operate.
- Hair styling and barber shops.
- Museums and art galleries.
- Daycares and out-of-school care with limits on occupancy.
- Summer camps with limits on occupancy. That could include summer school.
- Cafés, restaurants with no bar service to reopen for public seating at 50 per cent capacity.
Stage 2
Under Stage 2, additional businesses and services would be allowed to reopen, with two-metre physical-distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place. That might include:
- kindergarten to Grade 12 schools, with restrictions.
- more scheduled surgeries, including backlog elimination.
- personal services, such as artificial tanning, esthetics, cosmetic skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, massage and reflexology.
- permitting some larger gatherings (number of people to be determined)
- Movie theatres and theatres open with restrictions
- Visitors to patients at health-care facilities will continue to be limited.
In Stage 2, nightclubs, gyms, pools, recreation centres, and arenas will remain closed.
Stage 3
Again, if the case numbers remain under control, at some point the province would move to Stage 3. That would mean fully reopening all businesses and services, with some limited restrictions still in place, and:
- permitting larger gatherings, permitting arts and culture festivals, concerts and major sporting events, with some restrictions.
- permitting nightclubs, gyms, pools, recreation centres and arenas to reopen, with restrictions.
- resuming industry conferences, with restrictions.
- lifting restrictions on non-essential travel.
