On May 25, BC began Step 1 in a four-step gradual restart plan focused on protecting people and safely getting life back to normal. On June 15, the province moved into Step 2 of BC’s restart plan.

CMTBC is reviewing current and proposed changes to public health and safety guidance from BC’s Provincial Health Officer, BC’s Centre for Disease Control, and WorkSafeBC. RMTs can expect to see changes to the Interim Guidelines for Return to Practice (COVID-19) in the following areas:

• Changes will align with the gradual loosening of orders and restrictions by the Provincial Health Officer.
• Some sections of the Interim Guidelines will be relaxed. However, other sections that focus on continuing safety will require ongoing compliance, including staying home when sick and getting tested for COVID-19, screening patients and others who enter your practice environment, cleaning treatment rooms and high traffic areas, maintaining physical distancing in waiting rooms, and implementing heightened hygiene measures including hand-washing.
• WorkSafeBC’s industry specific information for health professions will continue to play a key role; we anticipate that it will be updated as changes are announced.
• RMTs will be expected to update their safety plans as new information is made available.

Recreational travel within BC is now allowed. All travelers are expected to continue to follow public health guidance and travel safely and respectfully. 

CMTBC’s pre-screening guidelines state that patients will be asked if they have travelled outside BC in the previous 14 days. Asking about travel outside of BC creates an opportunity for you and your patient to have a meaningful conversation about the potential increased risk of viral transmission posed by travel. This is true of travel for both the patient and RMT. For information on travel outside of BC, see Government of Canada Provincial and Territorial Restrictions.

CMTBC will publish a comprehensive revision of the Interim Guidelines by early July, in response to changes announced by the BC Government and Provincial Health Officer. RMTs will continue to be notified of changes by email and the CMTBC website.