Stronger public health measures
Mandatory restrictions will safely ease as vaccine targets are reached and hospitalizations decline.
Getting back to normal
Albertans have been working hard to stop the spike over the last few weeks. Active cases are going down and vaccination rates are going up.
Albertans have an incentive to continue following public health measures and get vaccinated as soon as possible. Alberta's Open for Summer Plan safely eases restrictions in 3 stages as vaccination targets are reached and hospitalizations decline. If Albertans continue doing their part, all restrictions could be lifted by late June or early July.
Alberta will enter Stage 1 on June 1. Until then, all current provincewide restrictions remain in place, with additional restrictions in high case regions.
Alberta's Open for Summer Plan
This 3-stage roadmap outlines how restrictions will ease while protecting the health-care system and increasing vaccination rates in the province.
COVID-19 transmission will continue to be monitored. If required, a stage may be paused to respond to trends at regional or provincial levels. Sustained reopening will require Albertans to get fully vaccinated with 2 doses during the summer to prevent future spread.
These restriction changes apply provincewide. Additional details will be released before each stage.
Stage 1: Two weeks after 50% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose, and hospitalizations are below 800 and declining. Effective June 1 unless stated otherwise.
- Places of worship – 15% of fire code occupancy (effective May 28)
- Outdoor social gatherings – up to 10 people (indoor social gatherings still not permitted)
- Outdoor physical, performance and recreation activities – up to 10 distanced people, all ages
- Personal and wellness services – re-open, by appointment only
- Funeral services – up to 20 people, not including facility staff, funeral clergy or organizers not considered guests (receptions remain prohibited)
- Wedding ceremonies – up to 10 people, including officiant, bride/groom, witnesses (receptions remain prohibited)
- Restaurants – 4 people per table max, outdoors, households only or 2 close contact for those living alone
- Retail - 15% of fire code occupancy (must maintain ability to distance)
- Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect
Stage 2: Two weeks after 60% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose, and hospitalizations are below 500 and declining. Expected to be in effect mid-June.
- Outdoor social gatherings – up to 20 people with distancing (indoor social gatherings still not permitted)
- Indoor recreation, entertainment and other settings (rec centres, arenas, casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, galleries, libraries, etc.) – open at 1/3 of fire code occupancy
- Gyms and fitness studios – open for solo and drop-in activities and indoor fitness classes with 3 metre distancing
- Funeral services – up to 20 people, indoors and outdoors (receptions permitted outdoors only)
- Wedding ceremonies – up to 20 people, indoors and outdoors (receptions permitted outdoors only)
- Places of worship – 1/3 of fire code occupancy
- Personal and wellness services – resume walk-in service
- Post-secondary – resume in-person learning
- Restaurants – 6 people per table max, indoors or outdoors
- Retail – 1/3 of fire code occupancy (must maintain ability to distance)
- Youth activities (day camps, play centres) – resume with restrictions
- Youth and adult sports – resume with no restrictions, indoors and outdoors
- Outdoor public gatherings (concerts/festivals) – up to 150 people
- Outdoor fixed seating facilities (grandstands) – 1/3 seated capacity
- Work from home order is lifted but still recommended
- Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect
Stage 3: Two weeks after 70% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose. Expected to be effective in late June or early July.
- All restrictions lifted, including ban on indoor social gatherings
- Isolation requirements for confirmed cases of COVID-19 and some protective measures in continuing care settings remain
Current restrictions for low and high case areas
Gathering, business, school and recreation restrictions apply provincewide, including communities with lower active cases.
Additional restrictions may apply to communities with high cases rates (50+ cases per 100,000 people and 30+ active cases), when indicated.
These restrictions remain in place until Stage 1 begins on June 1, even if a community moves below the threshold.
The path forward
Public health measures are being eased in steps based on hospitalization benchmarks and declining cases. When cases rise sharply, additional restrictions are implemented, as occurred on April 6.
Each step sets a more predictable path for easing restrictions, while protecting the health system.
Once hospitalizations are within range of the benchmark and declining, and cases are remaining stable or declining, decisions to move to the next step will be considered. The lowest-risk activities in each sector will be considered for change first.
Moving between steps will happen at least 3 weeks apart to assess the impact on cases.
Learn more about hospital capacity during COVID-19.
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Restriction changes to outdoor gatherings, funerals and personal services came into effect Jan. 18. First moved to Step 1 on Feb. 8 |
Benchmark to ease restrictions: We are here |
Benchmark to ease restrictions: Returned to Step 1 on April 6 |
Benchmark to ease restrictions: Delayed due to rising hospitalizations |
Benchmark to ease restrictions: At least 3 weeks after Step 3 |
Steps based on hospitalization benchmarks and declining cases
| STEP 1 <600 hospitalizations and declining cases |
STEP 2 <450 hospitalizations and declining cases |
STEP 3 <300 hospitalizations and declining cases |
STEP 4 <150 hospitalizations and declining cases |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Restrictions eased in these areas:
|
Potential easing in these areas:
|
Potential easing in these areas:
|
Potential easing in these areas:
|
Why restrictions are needed
Albertans have a responsibility to slow the virus's spread and make sure the health system can continue supporting patients with COVID-19 and many other needs.
There is a time lag between when people get infected and when new cases are identified. This means the cases we see today were infected up to 2 weeks ago.
We must work together to protect each other. The greater the community spread, the more likely it will infect our loved ones most at-risk of severe outcomes, including death.
What else you should do
Continue following existing public health measures to keep everyone safe:
- Stay 2 metres apart from others
- Wear a mask in public spaces, indoor workplaces and places of worship
- Practice good hygiene: wash your hands often and cover coughs and sneezes
- Monitor your symptoms every day
- If sick, stay home, get tested, and follow mandatory isolation requirements while waiting for results:
- if positive, isolate for 10 days or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longer
- if negative, stay home until you're better
- Download and use the ABTraceTogether contact tracing app when out in public
UPDATED - Moved back to stage 1 April 7th 2021
Moving forward safely
Alberta is bending the curve to protect our health system, but we must be careful not to lift restrictions too quickly.
A Path Forward is a roadmap to help Albertans understand how restrictions will be eased in steps over the coming months. It outlines the sectors that will see gradual restriction changes at each step based on hospitalization benchmarks.
Step 2 changes came into effect March 1. All other restrictions remain in effect.
The path forward
Public health measures will be eased in steps based on hospitalization benchmarks.
Each step sets a more predictable path for easing restrictions, while protecting the health system.
Once hospitalizations are within range of the benchmark, decisions to move to the next step will be considered. The lowest-risk activities in each sector will be considered for change first.
Moving between steps will happen at least 3 weeks apart to assess the impact on cases.
Learn more about hospital capacity during COVID-19.
Steps based on hospitalization benchmarks
| STEP 1 <600 hospitalizations |
STEP 2 <450 hospitalizations |
STEP 3 <300 hospitalizations |
STEP 4 <150 hospitalizations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Restrictions eased Feb. 8:
|
Restrictions eased March 1:
|
Potential easing in these areas:
|
Potential easing in these areas:
|
Moving forward safely
Alberta is bending the curve to protect our health system, but we must be careful not to lift restrictions too quickly.
A Path Forward is a roadmap to help Albertans understand how restrictions will be eased in steps over the coming months. It outlines the sectors that will see gradual restriction changes at each step based on hospitalization benchmarks.
Step 1 restriction changes came into effect February 8.
Steps based on hospitalization benchmarks
| STEP 1 <600 hospitalizations |
STEP 2 <450 hospitalizations |
STEP 3 <300 hospitalizations |
STEP 4 <150 hospitalizations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Restrictions eased Feb. 8:
|
Restrictions eased March 1:
|
Potential easing in these areas:
|
Potential easing in these areas:
|
-
Restriction changes to outdoor gatherings, funerals and personal services came into effect Jan. 18.
Moved to Step 1 on Feb. 8
-
Benchmark to ease restrictions:
600 hospitalizations and declining
Effective Feb. 8
-
Benchmark to ease restrictions:
450 hospitalizations and decliningAt least 3 weeks after Step 1
We Are Here as per March 1st 2021
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Benchmark to ease restrictions:
300 hospitalizations and decliningAt least 3 weeks after Step 2
-
Benchmark to ease restrictions:
150 hospitalizations and decliningAt least 3 weeks after Step 3
Gathering restrictions
Alberta declared a State of Public Health Emergency to reduce cases and protect the health care system. Social gatherings are the top source of transmission of COVID-19.
All indoor social gatherings are prohibited. Outdoor social gatherings can have up to 10 people. This will be enforced with $1,000 fines.
INDOOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 8
All indoor social gatherings are prohibited – public and private.
- Close contacts are limited to household members only
- People who live alone can have up to 2 close contacts:
- these must be the same two contacts throughout the duration of the restriction
- if the close contacts do not live alone, visits cannot be held at their home
- single parents who only live with their children under 18 are permitted to have up to 2 close contacts
This restriction does not apply to:
- co-parenting arrangements
- service visits from caregivers, health or childcare providers
- home maintenance and repairs
- mutual support group meetings
OUTDOOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Jan. 18
Outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people maximum and must not have an indoor component.
- Backyard gatherings that require movement in/out of homes are not permitted.
- Attendees should remain distanced at all times and follow all public health measures.
See sport and physical activities for information on outdoor recreation.
OUT OF TOWN TRAVEL AND VISITORS
Returning to Alberta
- If you do not have a household in Alberta, you must not stay in other people’s homes while these restrictions are in place.
- If you belong to the household, you are permitted to return to the home (e.g., child returning home from post-secondary).
- If participating in the Border Testing Pilot Program, all program directives must be followed before rejoining the household.
Visitors to Alberta
- Out-of-town visitors cannot stay in other people's homes while these restrictions are in place, regardless of where they are coming from.
While we appreciate this may affect travel plans to visit family, the increase in cases is very serious. These measures are required to stop the spread of COVID-19.
WEDDINGS & FUNERALS
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Revised Jan. 18
Wedding and funeral receptions are not permitted.
Wedding ceremony and funeral service attendance is limited to:
- 10 people maximum for wedding ceremonies
- 20 people maximum for funeral services, with mandatory masking and 2 metre physical distancing between households
The maximum limit:
- includes the officiant, bride/groom and witnesses
- does not include funeral service or facility staff, funeral clergy or event organizers who are not considered an invited guest
- applies to any facility, including places of worship and funeral homes
- applies to services held indoors or outdoors, seated or non-seated
This measure will help limit exposure, reduce outbreaks and protect vulnerable attendees.
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 13
Faith services are limited to 15% of fire code occupancy for in-person attendance:
- Physical distancing between households must be maintained
- Mask use is mandatory
Alternatively:
- Virtual or online services are recommended
- Drive-in services where people do not leave their vehicles and adhere to guidance are allowed
Additional safety measures:
- In-person faith group meetings and other religious gatherings are:
- not permitted in private homes while these measures are in effect
- permitted when conducted at a place of worship as long as physical distancing and public health measures are followed
- Faith leaders and other speakers can remove their masks while speaking if there is a distance of 2 metres. The mask must be put on again once finished speaking.
- Group performance activities, such as choir singing and playing music, are permitted if they are normal worship practices and not for the purpose of entertainment. Performers must wear masks at all times.
Business and service restrictions
Some businesses are required to temporarily close, reduce capacity or limit in-person access. Masks are mandatory in all indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and places of worship.
RETAIL
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Revised April 6
Retail services and shopping malls must limit customer capacity to 15% of fire code occupancy (not including staff) or a minimum of 5 customers. This includes individual stores and common areas (see calculating occupancy limits).
- Curbside pick up, delivery and online services are encouraged
- Shop alone or only with the people you live with (see tips for shoppers)
Retail services include but are not limited to:
- Retail businesses
- Shopping centres and malls
- Grocery stores, markets and pharmacies
- Clothing and sporting goods stores
- Computer and technology stores
- Hardware and automotive
- Liquor and cannabis
- Pet supply stores
- Gift shops
Restaurants Pubs Bars Lounges Cafes Food Courts:
Mandatory restrictions – Provincewide – Revised April 9
In-person service is not permitted indoors.
Restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges, cafes and food courts can open for outdoor patio dining, takeout, curbside pickup and delivery only.
- Patios and dining facilities must meet the following requirements in order to be considered outdoor:
- If the patio or facility has a roof, it cannot have more than 1 enclosing wall.
- The facility or patio can have more than 1 enclosing wall if it does not have a roof.
- Umbrellas and pergolas are not considered to be roofs. Fences and half-walls are not counted as walls.
- Patio seating must be limited to a maximum of 6 people per table – individuals must be from the same household or the 2 close contacts for a person living alone.
- Tables and dining parties must be 2 metres apart or separated by an impermeable barrier that will prevent droplet transmission.
- Individuals must stay seated with their dining party unless using the washroom, paying, or entering/exiting the facility. Masks must be worn indoors.
- Contact information must be collected from one person of the dining party.
- Liquor service ends at 10 pm.
- Patio dining must close by 11 pm.
- No entertainment allowed (VLTs, pool tables, live music, etc.).
ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION FACILITIES
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Revised April 6
Libraries must close.
All entertainment businesses and entities must remain closed, including:
- Casinos, bingo halls, gaming centres
- Racing centres, horse tracks, raceways
- Bowling alleys, pool halls
- Nightclubs
- Art galleries and museums
- Science and interpretive centres
- Amusement and water parks
- Children’s play centres and indoor playgrounds
- Movie theatres, auditoria and concert halls
Facilities used for indoor recreation may open only for individual or household one-on-one fitness training and youth group physical activities. Facilities may include:
- Gyms and studios
- Fitness and recreation centres
- Spas, pools, indoor rinks and arenas
- Community halls and centres
PERSONAL & WELLNESS SERVICES
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Jan. 18
All personal and wellness services can open by appointment only.
- Walk-in services are not permitted.
- Appointments should be limited to one-on-one services.
- Businesses must follow all current public health guidance.
- Home-based businesses must follow the restrictions for the type of service they provide.
Personal services include:
- esthetics, manicure, pedicure, body waxing, make-up
- body, nose and ear piercing, and tattoos
- artificial tanning and spray tanning
- facial, eyebrow and eyelash treatments
- cosmetic skin and body treatments
- laser hair and tattoo removal
- hairstyling and barbering
Wellness services include:
- floatation tanks
- reflexology
- colonic irrigation
HEALTH SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Mandatory - Provincewide - Revised Jan. 18
The following services can open by appointment only as long as public health orders and sector guidance is followed. Appointments should be limited to one-on-one services.
Regulated health services can open by appointment only
- physicians, dentists
- physical therapists
- optometrists
- chiropractors
- hearing aid practitioners
- acupuncturists
- naturopaths
Non-regulated health services can open by appointment only (effective Jan. 18, 2021)
- massage therapists (a prescription or referral is no longer required)
- manual osteopaths
- kinesiologists
- athletic therapists
Professional services can remain open by appointment only:
- lawyers
- mediators
- accountants
- photographers
Social services can remain open for in-person services including:
- social, protective or emergency services
- shelters for vulnerable persons
- not-for-profit community kitchens, religious kitchens and soup kitchens
Home-based businesses should follow the restrictions for the type of service they provide.
HOTELS MOTELS HUNTING AND FISHING LODGES
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Revised April 6
Banquet halls, community halls and conference centres can open for activities permitted under Step 1, such as:
- wedding ceremonies up to 10 people
- funeral services up to 20 people
Wedding receptions, funeral receptions and trade shows are not permitted.
Hotels, motels, hunting and fishing lodges may remain open, but must follow restrictions – no spas or in-person dining (room services only).
CHILDRENS SPORTS AND PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES
Mandatory restrictions – Provincewide – Revised April 15
Eligible participants include:
- youth 18 years old and under (except for Calgary youth in grades 7 to 12 – see below)
- members of a collegiate or university athletic program
- coaches or trainers
Limited group physical activities allowed
- Lessons, practices and physical conditioning activities are allowed for indoor and outdoor minor sports/activities and school athletics (for example, school sport activities that are outside of a physical education class or related part of the school curriculum).
- Games are not allowed.
Safety requirements
- Maximum of 10 total individuals, including all coaches, trainers, and participants.
- Indoor and outdoor playing surfaces (for example, arena, field, court or swimming pool) may be occupied by more than one youth group, as long as 3-metres of physical distancing can be maintained between groups of 10 and the groups do not intermingle.
- Physical distancing must be maintained between participants at all times:
- 3 metres physical distance for indoor activities
- 2 metres physical distance for outdoor activities
- coaches or trainers may enter physical distancing space for brief interactions with participants (for example, to correct form or technique)
- Participants must be masked at all times, except during high intensity physical activity. Coaches and trainers must remain masked at all times.
- Access to change rooms must be limited, including accelerated arrival and departure, emergencies (for example, first aid) and washroom use.
Off-site facilities
K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions are allowed to use off-site facilities to support curriculum-related educational activities.
Additional measures for Calgary youth in grades 7 to 12
- Extra-curricular indoor sport and recreation activities are not permitted for grade 7 to 12 youth in the Municipality of Calgary, effective April 19. This includes homeschooled students.
- These activities will be permitted again when in-person learning resumes.
- Outdoor sport and recreation activities and 1-on-1 indoor fitness with a trainer or coach are still permitted.
- Indoor activites may be moved outdoors, provided all safety requirements for outdoor physical activities are followed.
PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Revised April 15
Performance activities include dancing, singing, acting, playing a musical instrument, and any rehearsal or theatrical performance.
Adult performance activities
Adult performance activities are not permitted.
Youth performance activities
Youth may participate in indoor group performance activities and youth development activities (such as Scouts, Girl Guides and 4H).
- Maximum of 10 participants.
- Participants must be 18 years old and under (except coaches, trainers or instructors).
- Physical distancing must be maintained at all times (3 metres indoors and 2 metres outdoors).
Additional measures for Calgary youth in grades 7 to 12
Extra-curricular performance activities are not permitted for grade 7 to 12 youth in the Municipality of Calgary, effective April 19. This includes homeschooled students.
These activities will be permitted again when in-person learning resumes.
INDOOR FITNESS
Mandatory restrictions – Provincewide – Revised April 6
Team sports are not permitted
- No sports games, competitions, team practice or league play of any kind is allowed.
All group fitness activities are not permitted
- Individual or household one-on-one training only, with a trainer, is permitted.
- All indoor fitness must be scheduled or by appointment – no drop-ins allowed.
Safety requirements
Masks
- Masks must be worn by:
- trainers at all times
- clients at all times during low intensity exercise – masks are not required during high intensity exercise
Physical distancing
- 3 metre physical distancing must be maintained at all times, regardless of the type or intensity of exercise. This includes between pairs of trainers and clients – sessions cannot interact.
- 2 metre physical distancing is required in all other areas of the facilitly, such as entryways and exits, change rooms, etc.
Restrictions for training sessions
- Trainers must be professional, certified and/or paid trainers who are providing active instruction and correction. Passive supervision of a physical activity is not considered training.
- Each trainer can only interact with their assigned client, and each client can only interact with their assigned trainer. No interaction between clients or between trainers is allowed.
- ‘Cycling through’ multiple trainers (as in circuit training) is not permitted.
OUTDOOR FITNESS
WORKING FROM HOME
Mandatory - Provincewide - Effective Dec. 13
Working from home is mandatory unless the employer requires the employee's physical presence to operate effectively.
The path forward
Public health measures will be eased in steps based on hospitalization benchmarks.
Each step sets a more predictable path for easing restrictions, while protecting the health system.
Once hospitalizations are within range of the benchmark, decisions to move to the next step will be considered. The lowest-risk activities in each sector will be considered for change first.
Moving between steps will happen at least 3 weeks apart to assess the impact on cases.
Learn more about hospital capacity during COVID-19.
Steps based on hospitalization benchmarks
STEP 1
<600 hospitalizations
Restrictions eased Feb. 8:
- Restaurants
- Indoor fitness
- Children's sport and performance activities
STEP 2
<450 hospitalizations
Potential easing in these areas:
- Retail
- Banquet halls
- Community halls
- Conference centres
- Hotels
- Further easing of indoor fitness and children's sport and performance
STEP 3
<300 hospitalizations
Potential easing in these areas:
- Adult team sports
- Casinos, racing centres and bingo halls
- Indoor social gatherings, with restrictions
- Indoor seated events (movie theatres and auditoria)
- Libraries
- Museums, art galleries, zoos, interpretive centres
- Places of worship
STEP 4
<150 hospitalizations
Potential easing in these areas:
- Amusement parks
- Concerts (indoor)
- Festivals (indoor and outdoor)
- Funeral receptions
- Indoor entertainment centres and play centres
- Performance activities (singing, dancing and wind instruments)
- Sporting events (indoor and outdoor)
- Tradeshows, conferences and exhibiting events
- Wedding ceremonies and receptions
- Workplaces (lift working from home)
Why restrictions are needed
Albertans have a responsibility to slow the virus's spread and make sure the health system can continue supporting patients with COVID-19 and many other needs.
There is a time lag between when people get infected and when new cases are identified. This means the cases we see today were infected up to 2 weeks ago.
We must work together to protect each other. The greater the community spread, the more likely it will infect our loved ones most at-risk of severe outcomes, including death.
What else you should do
Continue following existing public health measures to keep everyone safe:
- Stay 2 metres apart from others
- Wear a mask in public spaces, indoor workplaces and places of worship
- Practice good hygiene: wash your hands often and cover coughs and sneezes
- Monitor your symptoms every day
- If sick, stay home, get tested, and follow mandatory isolation requirements while waiting for results:
- if positive, isolate for 10 days or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longer
- if negative, stay home until you're better
- Download and use the ABTraceTogether contact tracing app when out in public
Enforcement
If you violate a public health order, you may be subject to a $1,000 fine. Additionally, you can be prosecuted for up to $100,000 for a first offense.
If you are concerned someone is not following public health orders, you can:
- remind them that not following orders is against the law and puts people at risk
- request service from AHS public health inspectors online or call 1-833-415-9179