Photo: Government of Alberta

By Shane Clausing/EverythingGP

RESTRICTION EXEMPTION PROGRAM

Alberta COVID cabinet committee seeking to remove Restriction Exemption Program, restrictions in near future

Feb 4, 2022 | 1:13 PM

Premier Jason Kenney hinted on Friday morning that COVID-19 restrictions and the Restriction Exemption Program (REP) could be a thing of the past in the coming months.

Kenney took to social media on Friday to announce the COVID cabinet committee will approve a plan next week to lift restrictions, starting with the Restrictions Exemption Program.

“Thanks to our high levels of vaccination, Omicron has been much less severe than earlier COVID variants,” said Kenney. “We are not out of the woods yet, but based on the experience of other jurisdictions around the world who got hit by Omicron earlier, we can expect the pressure on our healthcare system to continue to ease.”

“We are in a much better position to manage future waves of COVID, thanks to the 90 per cent of Albertan adults who have received at least a first dose of vaccine, plus more widespread immunity from prior infection, and on top of that more new antiviral medications.”

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

1h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

Kenney added at the time, implementing the Restriction Exemption Program was the right thing to do in order to let Alberta businesses stay open during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Omicron is more likely to cause breakthrough infections even if you are fully vaccinated.

“We introduced this proof of vaccination program reluctantly to avoid a catastrophe in our hospitals during the Delta wave in September when Alberta and Saskatchewan were hit hardest because we had the lowest level of vaccination in Canada,” he explained.

“When the REP was introduced, vaccines were still very effective at limiting transmission and infection. The REP led to a major increase in Alberta’s vaccination rates, which honestly has saved many lives and helped us to avoid cancelling thousands more surgeries during both the Delta and Omicron waves. The REP has done its jobs.”

“With much higher levels of vaccination and lower levels of preventing infection from vaccines months ago, the rationale for the proof of vaccination programs like Alberta’s REP is not as strong today as when we introduced it in September,” Kenney added.

Kenney still encourages every Albertan to get a vaccine to help prevent severe COVID-19 infections.

“Vaccines are still tremendously powerful at preventing severe outcomes like hospitalization and death. The single best thing you can do to help us open quickly, stay open, and to keep yourself safe is to get your booster shot.”

More details will be announced on the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions starting next week.

Kenney added if hospitalizations continue to drop, the lifting of restrictions could come sooner rather than later.

“We will also layout a simple phased plan to remove almost all public health restrictions later this month, as long as we see a trend of declining pressure on our hospitals.”

“I know some people will say all of this is too early and that we should chase a policy of COVID zero and it’s all too risky. But friends, after two years of this, we simply cannot continue to rely on the blunt instrument of damaging restrictions as a primary tool to cope with a disease that will likely be with us for the rest of our lives. We must find a way to get our lives back to normal.”