Premier Jason Kenney. (Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

BREAKING: Alberta announces phased economic relaunch strategy

Apr 30, 2020 | 3:51 PM

EDMONTON, AB – It should not be much longer before at least some COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

The Government of Alberta announced its “safely staged COVID-19 relaunch” strategy Thursday.

“I’m confident Albertans will approach relaunch with the same adaptability and resilience they have shown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Premier Jason Kenney. “We will move forward together with care and common sense, knowing tough times are still ahead. We will support and protect vulnerable Albertans and keep them safe as we build our province back up one stage at a time.”

Early actions

The plan to move forward requires careful and ongoing monitoring and respecting all guidelines outlined by the chief medical officer of health:

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• Alberta Health Services will resume some scheduled, nonurgent surgeries as soon as May 4.
• Dental and other health-care workers, such as physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists, respiratory therapists, audiologists, social workers, occupational therapists, dieticians, and more, will be allowed to resume services starting May 4, as long as they are following approved guidelines set by their professional colleges.
• Recognizing the role that access to the outdoors and recreation in the outdoors plays to Albertans’ sense of wellbeing, access to provincial parks and public lands will be reopened using a phased approach, beginning with:
  • Vehicle access to parking lots and staging areas in parks and on public lands opening May 1.
  • Opening a number of boat launches in provincial parks on May 1 and working to have them all open by May 14. Check albertaparks.ca for the status of boat launches.
  • The government is working to make campsites available as soon as possible, with the goal to have as many open as possible by June 1. At this time, sites are open to Albertans only. Check albertaparks.ca for updates.
  • Group and comfort camping will not be offered. Campground facility access restrictions to areas such as showers, picnic and cooking shelters will also be posted to albertaparks.ca.
  • Alberta Parks’ online reservation system will be available May 14 to book site visits beginning June 1. Out-of-province bookings will not be processed.
  • No washrooms or garbage pickup will be available within provincial parks at this time. These services will be available as soon as Alberta Environment and Parks brings staff back.
  • Fire bans in parks, protected areas, and the Forest Protection Area remain in place.
  • No off-highway vehicle restrictions are currently in place. Local restrictions may be required if the risk for wildfires increases.
  • Private and municipal campgrounds and parks can open with physical distancing restrictions, under their own local authority.
  • Golf courses can open on May 4, with restrictions including keeping clubhouses and pro shops closed. On-site shops and restaurants can open in stage one, consistent with other businesses and retailers.

Progress to Stage 1 will occur once health measures are achieved to the satisfaction of the government based on the advice of the chief medical officer of health, as early as May 14

Stage 1 highlights:

• With increased infection prevention and controls, to minimize the risk of increased transmission of infections, some businesses and facilities can start to gradually resume operations as early as May 14:
  • Retail businesses, such as clothing, furniture, and bookstores. All vendors at farmers’ markets will also be able to operate.
  • Some personal services like hair styling and barbershops.
  • Museums and art galleries.
  • More scheduled surgeries, dental procedures, physiotherapy, chiropractic, optometry, and similar services.
  • Daycares and out-of-school care with limits on occupancy.
  • Summer camps with limits on occupancy. This could include summer school.
  • Cafés, restaurants (minors allowed in liquor-licensed establishments) with no bar service to reopen for public seating at 50 per cent capacity.
  • Some additional outdoor recreation.
• Post-secondary institutions will continue to deliver courses; however how programs are delivered – whether online, in-person, or a blend – will be dependent on what restrictions remain in place at each relaunch phase.
• The use of masks will be strongly recommended in certain specific crowded public spaces, like mass transit, that do not allow for physical distancing (two metres apart).

Still not permitted in stage 1:

• Gatherings of more than 15 people. (Gatherings of 15 people or fewer must follow personal distancing and other public health guidelines.)
• Arts and culture festivals, major sporting events, and concerts, all of which involve close physical contact.
• Movie theatres, theatres, pools, recreation centres, arenas, spas, gyms, and nightclubs will remain closed.
• Visitors to patients at health-care facilities will continue to be limited.
• In-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12 students.

Stage 2 highlights:

• Timing of this stage will be determined by the success of Stage 1, considering the capacity of the health-care system and continued limiting and/or reduction of the rate of infections, hospitalization and ICU cases.
• Will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations with two-metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place. This includes:
  • Potential kindergarten to Grade 12 schools, with restrictions.
  • More scheduled surgeries, including backlog elimination.
  • Personal services, such as artificial tanning, esthetics, cosmetic skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, massage and reflexology.
  • Permitting of some larger gatherings (number of people to be determined as we learn more about the levels of risk for different activities) in some situations.
  • Movie theatres and theatres open with restrictions. Visitors to patients at health-care facilities will continue to be limited.

Still not permitted in stage 2:

• Nightclubs, gyms, pools, recreation centres, and arenas will remain closed.
• Arts and culture festivals, concerts, attendance at major sporting events and other mass gatherings will continue to not be permitted.

Stage 3 highlights:

Timing of this stage is to be determined based on the success of stages 1 and 2 and will involve:

• Fully reopening all businesses and services, with some limited restrictions still in place.
• Permitting larger gatherings (number of people to be determined).
• Permitting arts and culture festivals, concerts, and major sporting events with some restrictions.
• Permitting nightclubs, gyms, pools, recreation centres, and arenas to reopen with restrictions.
• Resuming industry conferences with restrictions.
• No restrictions on non-essential travel.