Premier Jason Kenney

By Dori Modney / David Opinko

Stop the Spike – Premier tightens Covid restrictions across Alberta

May 4, 2021 | 6:49 PM

EDMONTON, AB. — New public health restrictions go into effect soon in many areas across the province.

Premier Jason Kenney started Tuesday’s COVID-19 press conference by underscoring what he believes is the need for more restrictions by pointing the groups who are not following already-existing COVID rules set out by Alberta Health Services.

One of those is the continuing increase in highly transmissible variants, which means the spread is occurring at an alarming rate.

Kenney noted that AHS is at the point where if it has to increase ICU beds across the province, it will mean the curtailment of more surgeries.

“This is a last resort and a necessary step. With cases continuing to rise, we have no choice but to take serious action now or jeopardize putting the health system at risk. If we don’t do this now, if this doesn’t work, then we’ll need a much longer list of restrictions, which no Albertan wants to see. The best way to get out of this is for all Albertans to follow these new measures and get vaccinated when it’s their turn.”

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The Premier also noted the issue was not a lack of restrictions, but a lack of compliance

Most of the new restrictions come into effect on May 5 for regions with at least 50 cases per 100,000 and at least 30 active infections. Restrictions starting at different dates will be specified below.

These will be in place for “at least three weeks and will be extended if necessary.”

The previous province-wide restrictions remain in effect for all other communities.

A shortlist of new restrictions are as follow:

Schools:

• Effective Friday, May 7, K-12 schools transition to online learning
• Effective May 5, post-secondary schools transition to online learning

Gatherings:

• Indoor gatherings of any size remain prohibited
• Outdoor social gatherings are limited to no more than five people and a maximum of two household cohorts

Retail:

• Customer capacity is limited to 10 per cent of fire code occupancy, not including staff, or a minimum of five customers

Restaurants, bars, pubs, lounges, and cafes – effective at 11:59 pm on May 9:

• All in-person dining, including on patios, is prohibited
• Only take out or delivery is allowed

Fitness, performance, and recreation – effective 11:59 pm on May 9:

• All indoor sport, performance, and recreation activities for youth and adults are prohibited
• Indoor fitness and recreation facilities must close, including for one-on-one training
• All outdoor sports and recreation activities are prohibited, except with members of your household, or your two close contacts if you live alone
• Only professional sport organizations that have received an exemption can continue

Personal and wellness services – effective 11:59 pm on May 9:

• All personal and wellness services, including hair salons, barbers, nail salons, estheticians, tattoos, and piercings, must close

Places of worship:

• Faith services are limited to 15 in-person attendees
• Physical distances between households must be maintained at all times
• Virtual or online services are recommended
• Drive-in services where people do not leave their vehicles are allowed

Funerals:

• Maximum of 10 people, including participants and guests
• Funeral receptions are not permitted

Workplace rules:

• Any workplace, except work camps and essential and critical services, with three or more cases must close for 10 days
  • Any workplace that does not comply will be subject to enforcement
• Working from home remains mandatory unless the employees’ physical presence is necessary

Health, social, and professional services – effective 11:59 pm on May 9:

• Regulated health services, such as physicians, dentists, and chiropractors, can remain open by appointment only
• Non-regulated health services, such as massage therapists and kinesiologists, can remain open by appointment only
• Professional services, such as lawyers and photographers, can remain open by appointment only
• Social services, such as shelters and not-for-profit community kitchens, can remain open

Fines for violating the Public Health Act will double to $2,000.

Repeat offenders “will be targeted with a new enforcement protocol.” A coalition of enforcement partners will work with each other to come up with “the most effective measures to gain compliance in that situation.

The following communities, as of May 4, have fewer than 50 cases per 100,000 people and/or fewer than 30 active cases. They are still subject to the prior province-wide restrictions but not the new ones announced Tuesday:

• Clear Hills County
• I.d. No. 12 (Jasper National Park)
• I.d. No. 13 (Elk Island)
• I.d. No. 24 (Wood Buffalo)
• I.d. No. 25 (Willmore Wilderness)
• I.d. No. 349
• I.d. No. 4 (Waterton)
• Municipal District of Acadia No. 34
• Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66
• Saddle Hills County
• Kananaskis Improvement District
• Birch Hills County
• City of Lloydminster
• Special Areas No. 3
• Woodlands County
• Municipality of Jasper
• Starland County
• Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17
• County of Two Hills No. 21
• County of Northern Lights
• Thorhild County
• County of Newell
• County of Forty Mile No. 8
• County of Paintearth No. 18
• Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133
• Special Areas No. 4
• Municipal District of Provost No. 52
• Municipal District of Smoky River No. 130
• Special Areas No. 2
• Municipal District of Fairview No. 136
• Vulcan County
• Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9
• Municipal District of Greenview No. 16
• Municipality of Crowsnest Pass
• Lamont County
• County of Minburn No. 27
• Town of Drumheller
• Smoky Lake County
• Northern Sunrise County
• Lac Ste. Anne County
• Flagstaff County
• Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8

A full list of the new restrictions is available on the Alberta Government website.

Premier Kenney’s press conference can be viewed below: