Alberta moves to Stage 3 of reopening plan on Canada Day
Alberta will move to the third stage of its reopening plan on July 1, meaning nearly all health measures will be lifted, Premier Jason Kenney announced Friday.
Indoor social gatherings will once again be allowed and there will be no limit on the size of outdoor events. Restaurants, bars and retail outlets will once again be able to run at full capacity. The provincial mask mandate will also be lifted but masks will still be required in some settings, including while on public transit and while inside city-owned buildings.
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will still have to quarantine.
"This is an important milestone and a great achievement, but we will not stop here," said Kenney
"We will keep administering first and second doses as quickly as possible so we’re not just open for summer, but open for good."
The province says 70.2 per cent of eligible Albertans — those age 12 and up — have now received a first dose and more than 25 per cent have received a second dose.
The province is also speeding up the timeline for when Albertans can get a second dose and everyone age 12 and up is now eligible.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro says at least eight weeks should pass between first and second doses for those receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. At least four weeks should pass between shots for those getting an mRNA vaccine, like Pfizer or Moderna. Albertans will have a choice on which vaccine they receive for a second dose.
Vaccines can be booked through the province's website www.alberta.ca/vaccine or through a participating pharmacy.
There are currently 2,471 active cases in Alberta, which is the lowest number since the beginning of October, said Kenney, and marks a 61 per cent drop since the start of Stage 1 of reopening earlier this year. The number of hospitalizations has fallen 45 per cent since the start of Stage 1, said Kenney, and the number of people in ICU has dropped 53 per cent.
Reaching the 70 per cent vaccination milestone means the deadline for the $1 million Open For Summer Lottery will be 11:59 p.m. on June 24. Everyone age 18 and older can register at www.alberta.ca/lottery and you must have received a vaccination to claim a prize.
There will be two more $1 million draws and 40 travel prizes offered by WestJet and Air Canada in August and September as part of the effort to encourage Albertans to get immunized. Kenney has said entry in those draws will be tied to second doses of vaccinations.
'CHOMPING AT THE BIT'
Among the Albertans looking forward to looser restrictions is Gary Paukert.
He's part of the Calgary Men's Senior Slow Pitch League and says they can't wait to get back on the field.
"Chomping at the bit," he said. "Last year was not a normal year, we didn't play tournaments, had to play in small cohorts so (we) didn't have our regular group."
"We are really excited we are starting up the first week of July here."
While outdoor sports were allowed during stage to social distancing was still required - that's no longer the case
Paukert says he and his teammates will still be careful - everyone in the league is at least 55 years old and some players are in their 90's, making them higher risk for COVID-19.
But Paukert says not playing ball comes with its own set of risks.
"We are a 300 person league," he said. "I think there are a lot of guys in the league that were very isolated over winter."
"They are so happy to be out and see the guys they haven't seen in a year or more," he added. "We love this sport and we have missed it so much, to get out here, the green grass, hitting home runs, getting to see all our buds and play softball - this is what we live for in the summer so it's great to have it back."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.