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B.C. is close to reopening as the COVID-19 transmission rate slows and testing increases, said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Monday.

“We are getting close to that time where we can start to open up,” Henry said.

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There were just 11 new cases reported between noon Sunday and noon Monday — despite an increase in the amount of testing being done — and no evidence of any transmission on public transit, Henry said.

She said the number of people in hospital continue to fall, to 97, with 36 in critical care. There also remain 4,159 hospital beds sitting empty in case of a mass surge in COVID-19 cases. These beds were created by cancelling thousands of surgeries.

“I think you can see from these numbers, despite the community outbreaks that we’re seeing, it is clear evidence that our sustained efforts to follow public health measures are working here in B.C.,” Henry said. “Safe physical-distancing and self-isolation requirements have slowed the rate of transmission and we are now seeing a decrease in numbers … We are now making plans to ease restrictions, with the understanding of what we might face in the coming months.”