During the pandemic response, the strongest public health guidelines to manage COVID-19 and foundational elements to support relaunch were put in place.
Stage 1 allowed some businesses to resume operations starting May 14 with enhanced infection prevention and controls in place. The cities of Calgary and Brooks reopened more gradually due to higher case numbers and fully entered Stage 1 as of June 1.
Lifted restrictions – Stage 1
- retail businesses like clothing, furniture and book stores
- all farmers' market vendors
- hairstyling and barber shops
- cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars can reopen for table service at 50% capacity
- some scheduled, non-urgent surgeries to resume gradually
- museums and art galleries
- daycares and out-of-school care, with occupancy limits
- day camps, including summer school, with occupancy limits
- post-secondary institutions will continue course delivery, with flexibility for in-person delivery once the existing public health order prohibiting in-person classes is lifted
- places of worship and funeral services, if they follow sector-specific guidance
- dog parks and playgrounds, unless restricted by municipal authorities
With strong testing data showing low infection rates and the health care system experiencing low hospitalization and ICU cases, Alberta is ready to proceed to Stage 2 starting June 12.
Stage 2 will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations starting June 12 with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place.
Business operators, sport and recreation services can determine if they are ready to open and ensure all guidance for workplaces is met.
What can open with restrictions
- K-12 schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
- libraries
- more surgeries
- wellness services such as massage, acupuncture and reflexology
- personal services (esthetics, cosmetics skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, artificial tanning)
- movie theatres and theatres
- community halls
- team sports
- indoor recreation, fitness and sports, including gyms and arenas
- pools for leisure swimming
- VLTs in restaurants and bars
- bingo halls and casinos (but not table games)
- instrumental concerts
- provincial campgrounds at full capacity
Events and gatherings can be larger in stage 2
- 50 people maximum: indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties
- 100 people maximum: outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies
- No cap on the number of people (with public health measures in place):
- worship gatherings
- restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars
- casinos
- bingo halls
- More flexibility for ‘cohort’ groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep 2 metres apart:
- 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)
- people could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort.
Still not approved in stage 2
- 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)
- major sporting events and tournaments
- non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended – this won't be lifted until stage 3 of the relaunch strategy
The success of Stage 2 will determine when Alberta progresses to Stage 3. Factors are active cases, health-care system capacity, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) cases, and infection rates.
Stage 3 timing will be determined based on health indicators. Some restrictions and enhanced protection controls will remain in place.
Lifted restrictions
- fully reopening all businesses and services, with some restrictions
- larger gatherings permitted (number of people to be determined)
- arts and culture festivals, vocal concerts and major sporting events will be permitted with restrictions
- nightclubs will reopen, with restrictions
- industry conferences can resume, with restrictions
- no restrictions on non-essential travel
Continuing restrictions
- physical distancing restrictions will be maintained