While B.C. is extending the public health orders on events and gatherings through to Feb. 16, gyms and other exercise facilities will be allowed to reopen on Thursday, Jan. 20.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, says it is a “cautious step” in lifting COVID-19 restrictions which were put in place before the holidays last month, and quietly extended on Monday this week.

Henry apologized for that confusion at the start of her media briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

“I know it was a bit of an error on our part,” she said.  “I know that many people felt that we were overreacting and I’ve said this from the very beginning of the pandemic that our challenge and my challenge is to find that balance of making sure we are doing just enough to address the situation we’re in, and not allowing our system to be overwhelmed.”

You will have to show your COVID-19 proof of vaccination to work out in all gyms, which will have to operate with COVID safety plans and capacity limits. Both individual and group fitness classes will be able to resume this week.

“We will require spacing limits in gyms and fitness classes [with seven square metres per person],” she said. “Facilities must have enhanced ventilation with no fans or heaters.”

“It was a very difficult decision to close gyms before the holidays but it did give us that time to make that assessment, particularly looking at people who were using these settings and making sure we had additional measures in place that would address what we were seeing.”

Masks will be also mandatory except when you are working out, though Henry is encouraging you to wear one as much as possible.

Bars and nightclubs in B.C. will have to stay closed for another four weeks, while restaurants that are open will continue to be limited to six people per table with physical distancing or barriers in place.

Other restrictions, including the 50-per-cent capacity limit for theatres and stadiums remain in place. The restriction on other organized indoor gatherings like weddings and funerals have also been extended until it is reviewed on Feb. 16.

For the latest on B.C.’s COVID-19 health restrictions, go here.