Public health restrictions to remain for 6 more weeks

By Brian Konrad

Province pauses on lifting health restrictions

Alberta pushing back end of health restrictions to September 27

Aug 13, 2021 | 10:13 AM

EDMONTON — Alberta is taking a step back from ending many public health measures, as planned, this coming Monday.

Instead, the province is taking additional time to implement its plan to bring the province’s COVID – 19 response in line with other respiratory viruses.

In a release, the province says mandatory masking orders in public transit, taxis and ride shares, will continue until September 27.

Mandatory isolation for 10 days for those with COVID – 19 symptoms or positive test result will also be extended for six weeks.

Contact tracing will also remain in effect.

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Testing at assessment centres for any symptomatic individual will also stay in place until September 27.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the chief medical officer of health says “through the pandemic, we have monitored the situation closely and adapted our response as necessary. Reviewing data from Alberta and across the globe in the past few weeks has led me to a point where I feel that a pause on the next changes is the best way forward. I deeply care about, and am committed to, the overall health of all in Alberta. This is why I base my decisions on science and my professional assessment of an ever-changing situation.”

The province says recent data from Alberta and other jurisdictions including the U.K. and U.S. shows a wide range of acute care impacts at similar level of vaccination to Alberta’s.

The uncertainty and potential for larger impacts warrants further caution, although a peak in admissions that would distrupt the health system at provincial levels remains extremely unlikely.

Health official will continue to closely monitor hospitalizations and other severe outcomes due to COVID – 19 in the province.

Alberta Education has also released new health guidance to ensure student’s safety and help school officials prepare for the new school year.

That includes the Guidance for Respiratory Illness Prevention and Management in Schools and a back-to-school tool kit providing information for parents and school staff on what to expect when students head to their classrooms.

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education, points to the power of vaccines in allowing students to return to a normal school year in September.

The province continues to encourage eligible students, teaching staff, parents and guardians to get fully vaccinated.

In a release, Alberta Education says ” with these measures in place and climbing vaccination rates, students and parents can look forward to in-person classes, with no restrictions on in-person learning or extracurricular activities. However, masking will be required on school buses.”

More to come