Alberta is lowering the required isolation time for vaccinated individuals as long as their symptoms have resolved.
The change comes into effect on Jan. 3
“People who have previously received at least two doses of vaccines and test positive for COVID will be required to isolate for five days instead of 10, as long as their symptoms have fully resolved by that time,” Health Minister Jason Copping said at a Dec. 31 update.
Individuals must wear a mask around others at all times when outside their home for the five days following isolation.
“We feel this is prudent given the evidence that shows that fully-immunized people have shorter infectious periods,” Copping said.
The change is in line with Ontario and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control in the United States.
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Copping reiterated that anyone who has symptoms must isolate until symptoms are resolved, whether or not they are vaccinated or are confirmed to have COVID.
“We’re making these changes to help prevent disruptions in Alberta’s workforce, especially for those who deliver the services Albertans count on,” Copping said. “We believe this step will help balance the need for continuity in the workforce, the wellbeing of Albertans and our need to continue to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant.”
An exception is being provided for workplaces where a disruption of service for 24 hours or more would be harmful to the public and there is no other way to continue service except by bringing workers back before their isolation period is over.
Additional health measures will be in effect in those places, such as mandatory masking at all times.
People whose symptoms haven’t resolved will need to continue to isolate until they are feeling better.
Copping said the health measures already in place for gatherings, masking requirements and the expanded rollout of booster shots and rapid tests remain in effect.
Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said there is no new COVID-19 data available today. The next update of case numbers, from Dec-30-Jan. 3, will happen on Jan. 4.
She did say there are about 21,000 known active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
“As has been true throughout the pandemic, the total number of new and active cases in the province is greater than those figures,” Hinshaw said.
She added that’s been further changed by the decision to adjust testing protocols needed as the Omicron variant swept the province and the rest of the world.
She said previously testing captured about one in four cases, which changed to one in six in the summer’s fourth wave and is dropping even more in the Omicron-driven fifth wave.
Hinshaw said Alberta is using proactive approaches rather than reactive ones in this wave and says a well-rounded view of Omicron will come in the coming days and weeks.
She said Omicron is spreading for more quickly than previous variants and that with more people being infected and in a very short time, that poses a significant potential threat to our health-care system.
“Even though it seems that a smaller percentage of cases are requiring acute care we can expect that with a greater number of people infected that will soon translate into a greater number of people in hospital,” Alberta’s top doctor said, adding how high the numbers get is not known.
She also said a third dose of vaccine provides better protection against infection and severe outcomes, and urged Albertans to get their third dose.
On Thursday, the province estimated there were 4,000 new COVID cases.
It’s the third time in a week and second time in as many days Alberta has set a new daily record, following the record 2,775 cases in the detailed update on Dec. 29.
The province is also estimating a 30 per cent positivity rate today.
