Provincial health officials announced earlier this week that starting July 1, wearing a mask indoors is recommended but no longer mandatory for those who are not fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks indoors.

“Some people may choose to continue to wear a mask and that’s OK – we all need to go at our own pace,” reads a presentation during the provincial announcement.

The Face Coverings Order under the Emergency Program Act that came into effect last year is lifted and no proof of vaccination is needed.

“It is important for us to continue to wear masks in those indoor settings where we’re around people we don’t know and when we’re not fully protected [by vaccines],” said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

As daily case counts continue to drop and vaccination rates go up, B.C. has moved into stage three of the restart plan.

Step three needed to have 70 per cent of the 18+ population of B.C. vaccinated with their first dose along with low case counts and declining hospitalizations.

Starting today, personal gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, will return to normal with no capacity limit.

As for organized gatherings, indoor organized gatherings will be allowed 50 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is greater. Outdoor organized gatherings will be allowed 5,000 people or 50 per cent capacity.

Restaurants and pubs will have no group limits at their establishments. Night clubs can have up to 10 people seated at tables, but with no dancing allowed.

Businesses will transition from a COVID-19 Safety Plan to a Communicable Disease Plan. Some safety measures will remain, such as physical barriers.

For gyms and indoor fitness classes, all indoor fitness classes are allowed at normal capacity. Gyms and recreation facilities will also be open at normal capacity.

Recreational travel within Canada is now also permitted in stage three. “We welcome Canadians back to B.C. provided you have those two vaccinations,” said Horgan.

Currently, B.C. has more than 78 per cent of people aged 18+ vaccinated with their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and over 30 per cent have received two doses.

The seven-day average of cases is at 61, the lowest it’s been since last August.

On Wednesday, June 30, the province recorded 44 new cases of COVID-19.