It’s a new dawn and a new day, with new, looser COVID restrictions in place for the province. During a press conference yesterday, Premier Jason Kenney announced a three-step reopening plan for Alberta, but what exactly does that look like?
From restaurants to working from home, here’s everything that took effect today, Wednesday, February 9th as part of the first chapter in the government’s plan to phase out provincial mandates:
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Starting today, proof of vaccination will no longer be required to enter restaurants, bars, or nightclubs however, the following will still be in effect once in the venue:
- Limit of 10 people maximum per table. No mingling between tables.
- No interactive activities are permitted (for example dancing, darts, billiards).
- Liquor service must end at 11 pm and stop liquor consumption at 12:30 am.
In addition to this, venues that chose not to participate in the Restriction Exemption Program will be permitted to offer both indoor and outdoor dining options.
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ENTERTAINMENT & EVENT VENUES
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Be it a movie theatre to Rogers Place, larger venues that facilitate indoor entertainment or larger scale events will still have to adhere to previous occupancy restrictions:
- 50% if the facility has a fire occupancy load over 1,000.
- 500 attendees if the facility has a fire occupancy load between 500 and 1,000.
- No capacity limit if the facility has fire occupancy load under 500
However, food and drink consumption in seated audience settings will be able to resume. This means that at hockey or football games, spectators will be able to have a drink or grab a plate of nachos until 11 pm, as liquor service mandates are also still in place.
Outdoor venues will now have no capacity restrictions.
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Also as of February 9th, capacity limits on places of worship in Alberta have been removed. Masking, however, will still be mandatory for all, until February 14th when it will no longer be required by those under the age of 12.
RETAIL & SHOPPING MALLS
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As of today, any and all previous capacity limits may be lifted on retail stores and shopping malls.
Larger retail facilities however must limit to a capacity of:
- 50% if the facility has a fire occupancy load over 1,000.
- 500 attendees if the facility has a fire occupancy load between 500 and 1,000.
- No capacity limit if the facility has a fire occupancy load under 500.
SPORTS & RECREATION
While indoor group classes, training and competitions will be allowed, participants will be required to screen for symptoms of COVID-19.
Proof of vaccination (as we mentioned above) will no longer need to be shown before entering a facility if you’re watching a game or competition of any sport, but masking will be required.
Starting February 14th, this, again, will no longer apply to those under the age of 12. Lastly, outdoor activities will be able to continue with no restrictions.
So there you have it, folks. Please note, If a particular restriction was not mentioned under any of these paragraphs it’s probably still in place. Any remaining mandates will fall under Stage 2 which will go into effect on March 1st, 2022.
While it’s still under review and will depend on hospitalizations this phase will include likelt the following:
- Any remaining school requirements will be removed (for example Kindergarten to grade 6 cohorting).
- Youth screening activities for entertainment and sports activities removed
- Capacity on all large venues and entertainment venues lifted.
- Indoor and outdoor social gathering limits lifted.
- Mandatory work-from-home requirements lifted.
- Indoor masking will no longer be required.
For more information on COVID restrictions or to stay updated on the Alberta Reopening plan please visit the Government website here. Stay safe, Alberta!
