Alberta moves to stage two of relaunch
By Janet Kanters, Editor
Stage two of the provincial relaunch starts today (June 12), a week sooner than expected.
According to a government news release issue June 9, strong testing data showed active COVID-19 cases in Alberta are lower than expected.
“Albertans have demonstrated the care and common sense needed to move forward with our relaunch earlier than initially planned,” stated Premier Jason Kenney in the release. “Our data tells us our active cases are low, hospitalizations are trending downward, and people are taking action to protect those most vulnerable and prevent the spread of the virus.”
Data from June 8 showed 355 active cases and 44 people in hospital across Alberta. This is a decrease of almost 70 per cent in active cases since May 14 – when the province began stage one of the Alberta Relaunch Strategy.
As a result of the stage two reopening, more businesses, sport and recreation services can open if they are ready, and some larger gatherings for seated audience events will be permitted.
Stage two openings, with restrictions
K-12 schools for requested diploma exams and summer school (following guidance); libraries; wellness services such as massage, acupuncture and reflexology; personal services (esthetics, cosmetic skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatment, artificial tanning); indoor recreation, fitness, and sports, including gyms and arenas; movie theatres and theatres; community halls; team sports; pools for leisure swimming; VLTs in restaurants and bars; casinos and bingo halls (but not table games); and, instrumental concerts. In addition, more surgeries can now be performed.
The 50 per cent capacity limit for provincial campgrounds is also being lifted. The online reservation system will be updated and sites will come online in phases. By July 1, all camping sites will be open for reservations. First-come, first-served sites may open sooner. Information on additional sites will be added to alberta.parks.ca when they become available.
With stage two, events and gatherings can now be larger, with a maximum of 50 people for indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties. Meanwhile, a maximum of 100 people is allowed for outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies.
Starting June 12, there is no cap on the number of people for worship gatherings, in restaurants, cafés, lounges and bars, and in casinos and bingo halls. But public health measures and physical distancing must be in place.
Stage two also allows for more flexibility for “cohort” groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep two metres apart. For example, a household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people; performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers); sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues); and, people could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort.
Still not approved in stage two includes social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums; regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12 (classes will resume September 2020); vocal concerts (as singing carries a higher risk of transmission); major festivals and concerts, large conferences, trade shows and events (as these are non-seated social events and/or vocal concerts); nightclubs; amusement parks; hookah lounges (permitted for food and drink only); and, major sporting events and tournaments.
Non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended. This recommendation will not be lifted until stage three of the relaunch strategy.