Thursday, June 25, 2020

Phase Three

BC Premier John Horgan announced on Wednesday that the province is set to begin Phase 3 of its four-phase reopening plan.  We can start travelling throughout the province.  Physical distancing of two meters and wearing a mask when distancing is not possible, washing hands and staying home if you are feeling sick. Gatherings with more than 50 people are still banned.  "This is not the summer to do the big family gathering at the cottage," the premier said.

Entertainment venues like movie theatres can reopen under Phase 3, as can overnight camping in parks. Television productions can also start up again.

We are planning on travelling in the province, but will wait until later in the summer or early fall.  

It's interesting to read what's happening in the rest of Canada:

Alberta has no border checkpoints or travel restrictions, but non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended.

However, the Northwest Territories government has tweaked its checkpoint program at the N.W.T.-Alberta border allowing Albertans to obtain access passes to the Fort Smith, N.W.T. area. 

The Saskatchewan government had imposed travel restrictions on northern Saskatchewan but the government has since lifted those restrictions.

Residents are advised to limit any non-essential travel outside of Saskatchewan, with the exception of people who live in border communities and are commuting for work.

It is not mandatory that Sask residents self-isolate for 14 days upon their return from an out of province trip.

Manitoba hasn't closed its inter provincial borders, but it had established information checkpoints at provincial border crossings — four entering from Saskatchewan and one from Ontario —  to inform travellers of the risk of COVID-19.

Ontario and Quebec don't have any restrictions.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said he is expecting a travel bubble to open between New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador in early July. Such a bubble would allow for travel among the provinces without the need to self-isolate for 14 days.

New Brunswick could open to visitors from the rest of Canada by mid-July, as long as officials can continue to manage the spread of COVID-19, he said.

As of Friday, Canadian residents who own property in New Brunswick can enter the province, as long as they self-isolate for 14 days. The same rules apply for Canadian residents visiting family members in the province. 

Anyone authorized to enter at any point of entry must stop and and answer questions by a peace officer. 

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil is also hoping for the Atlantic bubble to open in early July. And the province could be opened to the rest of the country by mid- to late-July.

In the meantime, the province has implemented checkpoints at every major entry point into the province and anyone entering is stopped and questioned. 

Highways, airports and ferry terminals are being monitored, with staff telling travellers to self-isolate for 14 days, no matter where they're coming from.

Some travellers are exempt from the self-isolation rules, including truckers, medical staff and other essential personnel.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball said he is open to allow the free flow of people between the Atlantic provinces, and officials are working out the details of a regional bubble. 

Until then, non-residents are banned from coming into the province, unless they have an exemption. Anyone entering the province is required to isolate for 14 days.

P.E.I Premier Dennis King said he believes it's still too early to give a specific date when the Atlantic travel bubble will come into effect. However, he said his focus is on that plan, rather than when his province can open to the rest of Canada.

Meanwhile, P.E.I. remains closed to non-residents, allowing only health-care providers and essential workers, such as truck drivers delivering goods, to cross the Confederation Bridge.

Any residents who have travelled within Canada or internationally are ordered to self-isolate for 14 days upon returning. 

Yukon, Nunavat and North West Territories have had active public health orders prohibiting non-essential travel from the rest of Canada.

In Yukon, non-residents are allowed to travel through the territory on their way to other destinations. And on July 1,  Yukon will be opening its border with B.C.

However, the territory, because it's opening its border with B.C., will not be part of a northern travel bubble with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.  Residents of Nunavut and N.W.T. can now travel freely between the territories without having to self-isolate when they return.

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