‘BC’s Restart Plan’ has been released, here’s what you need to know

Premier John Horgan presented the province's plan to move forward following weeks of COVID-19 restrictions on Wednesday.

As of May 15, gatherings with two to six guests will be permitted, as long as there's a strict understanding that no one will socialize if they have any symptoms of COVID-19.

Also part of "phase one" is the reopening of restaurants and pubs, dentistry, hair salons, chiropractic and physiotherapy clinics, all with new physical distancing measures.

Another top priority is the rescheduling of elective surgeries, more students in K-12 classrooms and the reopening of provincial parks for day-use only.

"It won't be the flipping of a switch. We'll be proceeding carefully bit by bit, one step at a time," Premier John Horgan said.

"If we lose this discipline, everything we've worked towards will be lost."

If transmission rates remain low into the summer months, hotels and resorts could be reopened in June.

BC's film industry could also start work again around that time.

While movie theatres could be welcoming customers by July, no large concerts will go ahead until a vaccine is approved.

That also goes for businesses such as night clubs, casinos and bars that were given no definitive timeline to reopen.

International travel and all events of more than 50 people such as live sporting events will also continue to be restricted until a vaccine or community immunity is developed.

However, all reopening plans are dependent on the virus transmission rates going forward.

It has been nearly two months since BC officials put strict measures in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Watch the full "BC's Restart Plan" press conference below:

As of Wednesday, BC had 2,255 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 23 cases new cases announced, and 3 more deaths.

In total, 124 people have died of the novel coronavirus in B.C.