Alberta's Stage 3 timeline unclear as demand for first dose diminishes: Kenney
As Alberta moves into Stage 2 of its 'Open for Summer' plan on June 10, the timeline for Stage 3 remains unclear.
Stage 3 requires at least 70 per cent of eligible Albertans receiving their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Two weeks after that benchmark is met, the province will enter the next stage of reopening.
As of Tuesday, approximately 67 per cent of eligible Albertans have received at least one dose.
Premier Jason Kenney said Monday that the province is not currently on track to meet the Stage 3 vaccine threshold.
"We are seeing diminishing demand for the first dose of the vaccines."
Kenney says there are about 100,000 booked appointments for a first dose over the next week, which would fall short of the initial plans to progress to the third stage by late June or early July. He says 115,000 more Albertans need to get their vaccine in order to move ahead.
"We're returning to that critical point right now where every additional person decides to get the first dose is going to be able to accelerate the full openness of Alberta."
Stage 3 would lift nearly all restrictions including the ban on indoor social gatherings. Isolation requirements for people who have contracted the virus would still be in place, along with protective measures in continuing care settings.
"If you've been holding back, for one reason or another now is the time, over the next week to get the jab, so that we can move forward more quickly with the full 'Open for Summer' plan."
UNCERTAINTY CHALLENGING
The uncertainty has been challenging for the event industry.
“We have gone through many reiterations of promises of staged openings, promises of relaunch plans only to be told that we’re going back in time, there will be more lockdowns or further restrictions,” said Caitlin McElhone, the Edmonton representative for the Alberta Live Events Coalition.
The group formed when the pandemic hit to be a voice for the industry.
McElhone, who is an event planner and owner of CM Events said it usually takes eight to 10 months, even longer to coordinate larger scale functions.
“It’s really hard for event professionals to move forward because there’s so much money and so many resources that go into just the planning phases of an event it’s a huge risk to move forward with a lot of these big festivals and concerts that are planned, or hope to be planned in some capacity for the summer.”
The coalition said many annual events pulled the plug and cancelled for the summer.
The impact has been devastating for the approximately 40,000 people who work in the industry in Alberta.
“The live events industry just here in Alberta alone is $4.4 billion a year of economic revenue that is off the table right now.”
“One in three people travel because of an event, because of a celebration or a conference or a meeting or a festival or a concert that they’re going to and so it really does generate so much of how our economy works and without events there is no recovery.”
McElhone said the coalition has been working with the province and Alberta Health on getting the industry open safely over the past year and a half, but unfortunately most events have been on pause.
“Not all events are the same you know, planning a business meeting and planning a big outdoor festival for tens of thousands of people are quite different. And there was an opportunity to introduce smaller scale events in different capacities along the way that unfortunately we haven’t been able to do,” said McElhone.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Iran fires at suspected Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
Iran fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
In his new book 'As Long as You Need', hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.