By Chris Brown

Kenney: Alberta was bent but not broken

Alberta to move into Stage 2 of relaunch Friday

Jun 9, 2020 | 12:38 PM

Alberta’s Stage 2 relaunch will begin this week.

Premier Jason Kenney announced the relaunch date has been moved up one week to June 12.

“The last three tough months have left us bruised and grieving, particularly for the loss of 149 of our fellow Albertans,” he said. “But though we were bent, we have not been broken.”

Kenney said Albertans should be very proud of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted Albertans’ lives were not as severely curtailed as elsewhere and the province was able to lift restrictions sooner than most other jurisdictions.

Kenney said the entire province will be able to move into Stage 2 on Friday. Brooks and Calgary were delayed when Stage 1 was announced due to large outbreaks in those cities.

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What can open with restrictions in Stage 2:

• K-12 schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
• Libraries
• More surgeries
• Wellness services such as massage, acupuncture and reflexology
• Personal services (esthetics, cosmetic skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatment, artificial tanning)
• Indoor recreation, fitness, and sports, including gyms and arenas
• Movie theatres and theatres
• Community halls
• Team sports
• Pools for leisure swimming
• VLTs in restaurants and bars
• Casinos and bingo halls (but not table games)
• Instrumental concerts

The premier also said many of the activities planned for Stage 3 will be moved forward into Stage 2.

“This decision is anchored in science and solid data,” he said, explaining the province hit the three necessary triggers — decrease in hospitalizations, ICU admissions and active cases — to move forward.

“The decrease has been especially strong in Calgary and Brooks, the areas that had been hardest hit by the pandemic,” he said. “This means that Alberta has successfully controlled the spread of COVID-19 since Stage one restrictions were lifted and that’s why we’re able to move to stage 2 safely and sooner than expected.”

Events and gatherings can also be larger in Stage 2.

The limit for indoor social gatherings such as including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties will rise to 50 people. For outdoor events, it will rise to 100 people.

There will be no cap on the number of people at worship gatherings, restaurants, cafés, lounges and bars, casinos and bingo halls, but physical distancing restrictions remain in place.

There is more flexibility for “cohort” groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep two metres apart:

• A household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people
• Performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers)
• Sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues)
• People could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort

Kenney said protecting public safety remains the top priority and the government will continue to monitor hospitalizations and ICU admissions, and enhanced infection prevention will stay in place. Rigorous testing, tracking and tracing of infections will also continue.

Late on Tuesday, the City of Medicine Hat released a statement about the province’s relaunch announcement, saying officials are monitoring and incorporating the province’s guidance into relaunch planning.

“We are as excited as you are to see the announcement that some of our operations may return earlier than expected. But we ask for your continued patience while we prepare facilities and address staffing considerations and safety protocols. As reopening plans are finalized, we will share with the community and user groups accordingly,” says Merrick Brown, Director of Emergency Management with the City of Medicine Hat.

The following will still not be allowed in Stage 2:

• Social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums
• Regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12. Classes will resume September 2020
• Vocal concerts (as singing carries a higher risk of transmission)
• Major festivals and concerts, large conferences, trade shows and events (as these are non-seated social events and/or vocal concerts)
• Nightclubs
• Amusement parks
• Hookah lounges (permitted for food and drink only)
• Major sporting events and tournaments
• Non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended. This recommendation will not be lifted until stage three of the relaunch strategy.

A new map from Alberta Health Services will show active cases, allowing Albertans to continue to exercise personal responsibility and caution.

Kenney said he’s confident that Albertans will continue to approach the pandemic with responsibility, adaptability, and resilience shown so far. he said new cases, outbreaks and deaths will happen.

“But if we stay vigilant and disciplined, if we stay dedicated to especially to protecting the most vulnerable, we’ll be able to continue lifting restrictions and expanding opportunities throughout the relaunch,” Kenney said.

Sector-specific guidance documents can be found here.