Calgary's mandatory masking bylaw to end on Tuesday

A passenger wearing a face mask at the Calgary International Airport (file)

Calgarians will no longer need to wear medical masks in indoor public places now that the province has announced it is entering Stage 2 of its reopening plan.

The City of Calgary made the announcement shortly after Premier Jason Kenney detailed the reasoning behind why his government decided to move ahead with its strategy to drop most public health restrictions.

However, until that time – 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 28 – all residents aged 12 and over will need to wear face covering in indoor public spaces and public vehicles.

After March 1, that requirement will be limited to high-risk areas such as hospitals and on public transit.

In a statement, Chief Susan Henry of Calgary's Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) said the new stage of the COVID-19 pandemic has her "cautiously optimistic."

"Some of us will welcome the lifting of restrictions while others will prefer to continue wearing face coverings and following other precautions. We must be kind and compassionate toward one another, respect those personal choices and make space for everyone to move at the speed they feel comfortable with."

In the meantime, the city encourages all residents to acquire all the COVID-19 vaccinations they have access to, including any booster shots, to protect themselves from severe outcomes.

Further information from the Alberta government about its public health restrictions can be found online.