With the initial stage of the epidemic slowing in many parts of the nation, here’s how provinces are planning to reopen
A woman wears a face mask as she walks along Sainte-Catherine street in Montreal, Sunday May 24, 2020 (CP/Graham Hughes)
This post is updated as of Thursday, June 25.
In March, Canada began shutting down as the number of COVID-19 cases and resulting deaths soared. Now, with the initial stage of the epidemic slowing in many parts of the nation, provinces and territories are rolling out their reopening plans. Every jurisdiction is providing detailed advice, some with colour-coded charts and graphics.
A few general caveats:
There are rules on a national level in areas of federal jurisdiction:
To skip directly to information and instructions for your home province on this post, follow the applicable link below:
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland and Labrador
Name: Restart Plan
Current status: Stage 2, as of May 19
What reopens:
Gatherings: Limited to 50 or fewer
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: No
What’s next: Phase 3 from June to September.
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here is B.C.’s main provincial COVID-19 website.
Name: Relaunch Strategy
Current status: Stage 2, as of June 12
What reopens:
Gatherings: Larger gatherings permitted with 50 or fewer people indoors and 100 or fewer people outdoors (households can increase interactions to 15 or fewer people, with no physical distancing)
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: No
What’s next: Stage 3 (TBD)
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 website.
Name: Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan
Current status: Phase four, as of June 22
What reopens (first part of Phase 4):
Gatherings: Limited to 30 or fewer people indoors and outdoors (specific rules for religious services, weddings, funerals and outdoor graduations are here)
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: No
What’s next: Second part of Phase four (TBD)
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 website.
Name: Restoring Safe Services
Current status: Phase three, as of June 21
What reopens:
Gatherings: Public gatherings of 50 or fewer people indoors and 100 or fewer outdoors, with an exception that larger groups are allowed where gatherings can be physically divided into sub-groups of 50 or fewer indoors or 100 or fewer outdoors, to a maximum 30 per cent of usual capacity (specific rules for religious services, weddings, funerals, etc. are here)
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: Yes
What’s next: Future phases are TBD
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 site.
Name: A Framework for Reopening Our Province
Current status: Stage 2, as of June 12
What reopens:
Note: As of Thursday, June 25, all regions of the province are in Stage 2 except for Leamington and Kingsville in Windsor-Essex. Those two areas remain in Stage 1 because of “higher transmission rates in the local agriculture and agri-food sector,” the government said. Under Stage 1 rules, the following is open:
Gatherings:
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: No
What’s next: Stage 3 (TBD)
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 site.
Name: Gradual Resumption of Activities under the COVID-19-Related Pause
Current status: The province’s gradual reopening doesn’t have defined phases, such as those in other provincial plans. Reopening unrolled on a sector-by-sector basis, beginning on May 4.
What reopens:
Note: Greater Montreal is on a more gradual schedule due to higher case numbers
Gatherings:
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: No
What’s next: Rolling, sector-by-sector reopenings
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 site.
Name: Recovery Plan
Current status: Yellow level, as of May 22
What reopens:
Note: On June 26, Zone 5 (Campbellton region) joins the rest of the province in the Yellow level. Until then, it stays at the Orange level, which means:
Gatherings: Limited to 10 or fewer indoors, 50 or fewer outdoors (as of May 22)
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: Yes
What’s next: Green level (timing TBD, but some dates have been given)
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 website.
Name: Preparing to Reopen Nova Scotia
Current status: as of June 5
What reopens:
Gatherings: Groups of 10 or fewer can gather without physical distancing (they are strongly encouraged to maintain a consistent group); gatherings of 50 or fewer are allowed with physical distancing for social events, faith gatherings, sports, culture events etc.
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: Yes
What’s next: TBD
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 site.
Name: Renew PEI, Together
Current status: Phase Three, as of June 1
What reopens:
Gatherings: Gatherings of up to 15 people indoors and 20 people outdoors
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: Yes
What’s next: Phase 4 (as of June 26)
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 site.
Name: A Foundation for Living with Covid-19
Current status: Alert Level 2, as of June 25
What reopens:
Gatherings: Limited to 50 or fewer for gatherings, including family barbecues and those in public spaces, such as funerals, burials etc. (Wakes remain prohibited)
Self-isolation after interprovincial travel: Yes
What’s next: Alert Level 1 (TBD)
What’s on the reopening schedule:
Here’s the main provincial COVID-19 site.