Open for good? Alberta enters Stage 3 of reopening on Canada Day
The province is set to move into the third and final stage of its Open for Summer plan on Thursday.
In Stage 3, nearly all pandemic-related health measures will be lifted including the province-wide mask mandate.
According to Alberta Health Services, masks will still be required in some settings, including while on public transit and while inside city-owned buildings.
The City of Calgary's mandatory mask bylaw will remain in place until at least July 5, while Edmonton, Okotoks and Banff have announced they will follow the province’s timeline and remove their rules on Canada Day.
The ban on indoor social gatherings will be lifted and restaurants, bars and retail outlets will once again be able to run at full capacity.
A few measures will stay in place including isolation requirements for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19. Testing will still be offered to anyone with symptoms and the province will monitor the impact the move to Stage 3 has on case numbers.
"This is just a reminder that if you feel even a little bit unwell, it remains critical for you to stay home and arrange to get tested," said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health. "We will also continue to actively investigate and contact trace new cases, as well as screen for variants."
Hinshaw urges Albertans to remain vigilant. "COVID-19 is not going away completely. It remains a potentially serious illness that we must keep respecting."
Premier Jason Kenney has said he does not plan to bring back restrictions, adding that Alberta is not only open for summer but open for good.
BUSINESSES REMAIN CAUTIOUS
The Ship & Anchor Pub on 17th Avenue S.W. says it has decided to keep the mandatory mask policy in place indoors past July 5th, for now.
“We decided it's just a wise idea for interior spaces to remain a little cautious as we come out of the restrictions,” said Nicola Trolez, the Ship's marketing manager.
Starting Thursday, most of the plexiglass barriers separating tables outside will be coming down. The patio will be restriction-free as of July 1.
Starting Thursday, most of the plexiglass barriers separating tables outside will be coming down. The patio will be restriction free as of July 1st.
Inside, restrictions aren’t changing yet.
“We’re going to keep our density lower and we are requesting that people bring a mask, whether you’re sitting inside or out so that should you have to go inside, you use it inside.”
Trolez said with the Delta variant circulating and many waiting for second doses of vaccines the business wants to be careful and asks customers to mask indoors when away from their table.
“We are hoping to send a message of caution out to the general public but also for ourselves having to make that decision on how to curate our space going forward,” said Trolez.
Trolez said they have been dealing with mask confusion throughout the pandemic but she says hopefully people will continue to carry a mask.
Trolez said she hopes the city keeps the mask bylaw in place for at least the next few weeks.
“We’re going to monitor the situation, be mindful of vaccine supply, the Delta variant numbers and make decisions accordingly.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
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.
BREAKING Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
An interprovincial investigation into an 'emergency grandparents scam' that targeted seniors across Canada has led to the arrest of 14 suspects, Ontario Provincial Police say.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
'Wild, wild west.' Families say organs of deceased Alabama inmates have been removed without their consent
The state Department of Corrections and the University of Alabama at Birmingham face disturbing allegations from the families of five inmates whose organs were removed and reportedly kept without consent, according to a series of lawsuits.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Juror dismissed from Trump hush money trial as prosecutors seek to hold former president in contempt
A juror in Donald Trump's hush money trial was dismissed Thursday after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair and impartial, and the status of a second New Yorker picked for the panel was in limbo amid concerns that some of his answers in court may not have been accurate.