Edmonton to maintain mask bylaw despite Alberta scrapping COVID restrictions

Don’t toss your masks to the wind quite yet, YEG. Despite the rest of the province officially moving forward with the government’s plan to get rid of the remaining COVID restrictions in Alberta, Edmonton will keep its mask bylaw intact for the time being.

As we reported earlier, Saturday was met with an official announcement from Premier Jason Kenney confirming that as of Tuesday, March 1st the following measures would be taken to rid of restrictions:

• Remaining provincial school requirements will be removed.
• Screening prior to youth activities will no longer be required.
• Capacity limits will be lifted for all venues.
• Limits on social gatherings will be removed.
• The provincial mask mandate will be lifted in most settings. However, masking will still be required in high-risk settings, including on public transit, at Alberta Health Services-operated and contracted facilities and all continuing care settings.
• Restrictions on interactive activities, liquor service and operating hours will be lifted
• Mandatory work-from-home requirements will be removed

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Of course, as we learned earlier this year, every city across the province still has the power to enforce its own bylaws and Edmonton has chosen to maintain this right.

“On March 1, @YourAlberta will lift most provincial masking requirements,” the city wrote on its official Twitter account. “#YEG‘s Temporary Mandatory Face Coverings Bylaw will remain in effect until further action is taken.”

“The province’s easing of public health measures signals a shift to learning to live with COVID-19. We encourage Edmontonians to get vaccinated if they are not already, and continue to be kind to each other through this period of transition.”

Now, we understand that this may be confusing or even frustrating to some, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you’re tired of covering your faces.

According to the revised bylaw, the city council will review this mandate again in 30 days’ time. If at this point there have been less than 100 COVID cases per 100,000 people for 28 consecutive days, masks will no longer be necessary.

Things can change on a dime, but we will keep you updated. Until then, please be kind, stay safe and wear your masks.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please visit the City of Edmonton’s official website.