File photo of the sign outside of Lethbridge's Chinook Regional Hospital (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

COVID-19 hospitalizations drop under 500 in Alberta

May 29, 2021 | 6:43 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta reached a special milestone on Saturday.

The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is now below 500, with 478 people in hospital due to the virus. Of those 478 people, 140 are in intensive care units.

The province stated that if this trend continues, Stage 2 easing of restrictions could start on June 10, given that 60 per cent of Albertans are vaccinated.

READ MORE: 60% of Albertans now vaccinated, Stage 2 could start June 10

Alberta Health will be monitoring hospitalization trends over the next two weeks.

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Premier Jason Kenney said that, “this decline in in the number of people in hospital due to COVID-19 shows that Albertans’ efforts to stick to guidelines and to get vaccinated are paying off.”

“As long as hospitalizations stay below 500, we will move into Stage 2 on June 10 and be one step closer to having an amazing and fully open Alberta summer.”

READ MORE: Province announces three-stage plan to ease restrictions

The province’s Minister of Health, Tyler Shandro stated that, “fewer people in hospital shows Albertans are responding to our call for vaccinations, and is yet another welcome sign that we are on the right track.”

“Health officials will continue to monitor this trend closely in the weeks ahead as we move towards reopening the province.”

Stage 2 of the “Open for Summer” plan includes the following measures:

• Outdoor social gatherings increase to 20 people, with distancing.
• Wedding ceremonies may occur with up to 20 attendees. Receptions are permitted outdoors only.
• Funeral ceremonies remain unchanged with up to 20 people permitted, not including facility staff, funeral clergy or organizers not considered guests. Receptions are permitted outdoors only.
• Restaurants may seat tables with up to six people, indoors or outdoors.
  • Dining parties are no longer restricted to households only.
  • Physical distancing and other restrictions still apply.
• Retail capacity increases to one-third of fire code occupancy (must maintain ability to distance).
• Capacity for places of worship increases to one-third of fire code occupancy.
• Gyms and other indoor fitness open for solo and drop-in activities with three-metre distancing between participants and fitness classes may resume with three-metre distancing.
• Indoor settings may open with up to one-third of fire code occupancy, including indoor recreation centres. This includes arenas, cinemas, theatres, museums, art galleries and libraries.
• Indoor and outdoor youth and adult sports resume with no restrictions.
• Youth activities, such as day camps and play centres, may resume, with restrictions.
• Personal and wellness services can resume walk-in services.
• Post-secondary institutions can resume in-person learning.
• The work-from-home order is lifted but still recommended.
• Outdoor fixed seating facilities (e.g., grandstands) can open with one-third seated capacity.
• Public outdoor gatherings increase to 150 people (e.g. concerts/festivals), with restrictions.
• Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect.

Indoor masking and social distancing requirements will remain in place throughout the stepped approach and some degree of restrictions will still apply to all activities within each step.

On Saturday, the province reported 406 new cases of COVID-19.