Nearly all COVID-19 public health measures have now been lifted in Alberta.
On Saturday morning, Premier Jason Kenney announced the province would move into Stage 2 of its reopening plan on March 1.
This marks the end to all indoor and outdoor public gathering limits, the lifting of capacity limits at large entertainment venues and the end of the provincial work-from-home order. The provincial mask mandate has also been lifted, with some exceptions.
Here’s a closer look at what Stage 2 means for Alberta:
Masks
The province’s mask mandate has been lifted except for in high-risk settings. Masks or face coverings are still mandatory on all forms of public transit, as well as at all Alberta Health Services-operated and contracted facilities. That includes all continuing care settings.
Masks will not be mandatory in taxis or ride-sharing vehicles like Uber.
Edmonton’s municipal bylaw is also still in effect, so masks are still mandatory for everyone two and older at indoor public spaces and public vehicles in Edmonton until further notice.
READ MORE: Edmontonians will still have to wear masks when Alberta’s mask mandate is lifted
The City of Edmonton’s bylaw has two triggers that require council to review masking. First, when the province rescinds its mask order. Second, when Edmonton has 100 or fewer active COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people for 28 consecutive days.
According to the most recent COVID-19 data available as of Feb. 27, Edmonton had 161 active cases per 100,000.
In a post on Twitter Monday afternoon, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the city’s masking bylaw cannot be repealed arbitrarily.
“There’s a process, prescribed under the Municipal Government Act, that our city council must follow to determine what happens next,” Sohi said.
Sohi said city council will convene a special meeting on March 8 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the mask bylaw.
Calgary city council voted in February to lift its city mask mandate alongside the province lifting its mandate, meaning masks are no longer required in that city.
In addition, masks will still be required at airports in Alberta. Airports fall under federal regulation and masks will still be required in some areas.
Until Transport Canada changes its regulations, masks will be required on airplanes, going through security and at other points.
Mandatory isolation for those with COVID-19
One of the few mandates that remains in place until further notice is the COVID-19 isolation requirement.
Isolation is still legally required for Albertans who have COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for the disease.
From the onset of symptoms or a positive test, Albertans who are fully vaccinated must isolate for a minimum of five days or until their symptoms resolve. Following isolation, fully vaccinated Albertans must wear a mask at all times when around others outside of their home for five more days.
Albertans who have symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 and are not fully vaccinated must isolate for the full 10 days or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.
Indoor and outdoor gathering limits
There are no longer any limits to the number of people who can gather inside or outside in Alberta.
Capacity limits at large entertainment venues
All capacity limits have been lifted at large venues and entertainment venues in Alberta.
Restaurants, bars, cafés
All public health measures are now lifted at restaurants, bars and cafés across Alberta.
These types of businesses can now go back to serving alcohol past 11 p.m.
There are no limits to the number of people who can sit at a table.
Schools
All remaining requirements at Alberta schools have been removed. This means the end to cohorting in Kindergarten to Grade 6 classrooms.
Youth sports
There are no longer screening requirements for youth entertainment and sport activities.
Work-from-home order
The province’s mandatory work-from-home order has been lifted. However, many businesses are still choosing to have employees work from home.
Travel
Federal border measures remain in place for all international travellers.
Eased measures came into effect on Monday. Double-vaccinated air and land travellers no longer need to present a negative molecular test result, such as a PCR test before departure for Canada.
Unvaccinated children under 12 also no longer need to self-isolate upon return to the country, and Ottawa has lifted its blanket advisory against trips abroad.
The potentially-cheaper and easier-to-access rapid antigen tests administered by a health professional remain mandatory for Canadians 12 and over who want to avoid quarantining at home for 10 days upon return to the country.
The move to Step 3
Step 3 of the province’s reopening plan will eventually see the end of all COVID-19 restrictions, including measures specific to continuing care facilities and the end of mandatory isolation.
A timeline for Alberta entering Step 3 has not yet been determined. The province has said it will depend on hospitalization rates continuing to trend downward.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Alberta have been on a downward trend for a few weeks. As of Monday afternoon, there were 1,224 people in hospital with COVID-19, with 83 of those patients in intensive care.
Hospitalizations peaked at 1,623 patients in hospital with COVID-19 on Feb. 8.
On Monday, Saskatchewan became the first province in Canada to lift its remaining COVID-19 restrictions.
Residents in that province no longer have to wear masks in indoor public spaces and they are not required to self-isolate for five days if they test positive for COVID-19.
Tuesday COVID-19 numbers
Due to a technical error, Alberta Health said it was only releasing estimated COVID-19 data Tuesday, with full reporting expected to resume on Wednesday.
The province estimated there were 1,225 people in hospital with COVID-19, with 80 of those people in the ICU. An estimated 500 new cases were reported.
With access to PCR testing restricted, officials have previously said new case numbers are likely much higher than what’s detected with testing.
— With files from The Canadian Press and Kirby Bourne, 630 CHED.
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