By Chris Brown

12 a.m. on June 15

Alberta to lift remaining COVID health measures, including mandatory isolation

Jun 13, 2022 | 5:33 PM

Alberta will soon lift its remaining COVID-19 public health restrictions.

As of 12 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15, mandatory isolation becomes a recommendation only and there will be no mandatory masking on public transit.

Masking and any other measures to protect patients in Alberta Health Services and contracted health facilities will remain in place through AHS policy as required for infection prevention and control

The government says Alberta is moving past the BA.2 wave of Omicron and COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing to decline.

The rate of new hospitalizations has been declining since the peak on April 26. Back then there were 20.7 new COVID-19 admissions per day per one million people. As of June 9, the weekly average of new hospitalizations rate was 6.6 per day per million population.

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PCR test positivity and wastewater surveillance are also showing a continuing trend of declining COVID-19 transmission.

The province says work is underway to prepare for the fall and winter respiratory virus season. This includes maintaining surveillance and testing programs and preparing to expand acute care surge capacity.

“We need to live with COVID-19 while accepting that it will continue to be present, says Health Minister Jason Copping in a news release. “We’ll continue to work to keep Albertans safe by ensuring access to vaccines, antivirals and rapid tests, through ongoing COVID-19 surveillance, and by enhancing health-care system capacity.”

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw adds that learning to live with COVID-19 does not mean forgetting about it.

“As we bring COVID-19 management in line with other respiratory diseases, it will continue to be vital that we receive our primary vaccine series and any additional booster doses we are eligible for, and continue good habits like washing our hands regularly and avoiding being around others if we feel sick.”

Orders in continuing care will be rescinded by June 30 but some measures in continuing care settings will remain in place through standards and policy.

The province says vaccines are still readily available across the province on a walk-in basis. Appointments are also available through the Alberta Vaccine Booking System or by calling 811 or a participating pharmacy.

As well, Alberta continues to provide rapid tests at no cost. To find a location, visit alberta.ca/CovidRapidTests. An Alberta Health Care card is not required to pick up a rapid test kit.