Premier Jason Kenney -- AHS live stream

By Connor Gunn

Province announces three-stage plan to ease restrictions

May 26, 2021 | 12:02 PM

EDMONTON, AB– A three-stage plan to lift all public health restrictions for an “open summer” was outlined Wednesday.

With new and active COVID-19 cases dropping recently, Premier Jason Kenney says “in the coming days” restrictions will start to ease.

Stage 1: Two weeks after 50% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose and hospitalizations are below 800 and declining. Effective June 1 unless stated otherwise.

• Places of worship – 15% of fire code occupancy (effective May 28)
• Outdoor social gatherings – up to 10 people (indoor social gatherings still not permitted)
• Outdoor physical, performance and recreation activities – up to 10 distanced people, all ages
• Personal and wellness services – re-open, by appointment only
• Funeral services – up to 20 people, not including facility staff, funeral clery or organizers not considered guests (receptions remain prohibited)
• Wedding ceremonies – up to 10 people, including officiant, bride/groom, witnesses (receptions remain prohibited)
• Restaurants – 4 people per table max, outdoors, households only or 2 close contact for those living alone
• Retail – 15% of fire code occupancy (must maintain ability to distance)
• Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect

Stage 2: Two weeks after 60% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose and hospitalizations are below 500 and declining. Expected to be in effect mid-June.

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• Outdoor social gatherings – up to 20 people with distancing (indoor social gatherings still not permitted)
• Indoor recreation, entertainment and other settings (rec centres, arenas, cinemas, theatres, museums, galleries, libraries) – open at 30% of fire code occupancy
• Gyms and fitness studios – open for solo and drop-in activities and indoor fitness classes with 3 metre distancing
• Funeral services – up to 20 people, indoors and outdoors (receptions permitted outdoors only)
• Wedding ceremonies – up to 20 people, indoors and outdoors (receptions permitted outdoors only)
• Places of worship – 1/3 of fire code occupancy
• Personal and wellness services – resume walk-in service
• Post-secondary – resume in-person learning
• Restaurants – 6 people per table max, indoors or outdoors
• Retail – 1/3 of fire code occupancy (must maintain ability to distance)
• Youth activities (day camps, play centres) – resume with restrictions
• Youth and adult sports – resume with no restrictions, indoors and outdoors
• Outdoor public gatherings (concerts/festivals) – up to 150 people
• Outdoor fixed seating facilities (grandstands) – 1/3 seated capacity
• Work from home order is lifted but still recommended
• Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect

Stage 3: Two weeks after 70% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose. Expected to be effective in late June or early July.

• All restrictions lifted, including ban on indoor social gatherings
• Isolation requirements for confirmed cases of COVID-19 and some protective measures in continuing care settings remain

This reopening plan “will require Albertans to get fully vaccinated with 2 doses during the summer to prevent future spread,” the release states.

Alberta reached the 50 per cent threshold for one-dose vaccination on May 18, and hospitalizations well below 800, Kenney says the end of the pandemic is near.

Kenney says as of Wednesday, the province is near 58 per cent of all Albertans having received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, “70 per cent is not that far away.”

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“This is the day we have all waited for. We now have a clear plan to lift all public health restrictions and get back to normal. So long as Albertans continue to get vaccinated in strong numbers, Alberta will be fully open and back to normal for a truly great Alberta summer,” adds Kenney.

Albertans can track the province’s immunization progress on alberta.ca.

More information on the “Open for Summer Plan” can be found here.