Alberta to lift all COVID-19 restrictions by early July, premier Kenney says
Posted May 26, 2021 2:22 pm.
Last Updated May 26, 2021 2:49 pm.
EDMONTON – Albertan Premier Jason Kenney says the province will soon start lifting some public health restrictions and most will be gone by early July.
He says the “open for summer” plan is possible because Albertans have “crushed” a spike in COVID-19 cases and are getting vaccinated.
“Albertans have stopped the spike and now we can start safely lifting restrictions so we can have a truly great Alberta summer,” Kenney said.
The capacity for places of worship is to be increased to 15 percent on Friday, and hair salons and restaurant patios can open on Tuesday.
Kenney says movie theatres, libraries and gyms will be allowed to open and indoor dining restaurants will be able to offer indoor dining as of mid-June.
The third phase would see most all public health orders lifted.
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The three-stage plan is tied to the percentage of residents 12 and older who have received the first shot of vaccine and to hospitalization numbers.
The government brought in tougher health orders three weeks ago to tamp down a surge in cases that saw Alberta lead North America in daily infection rates.
Kenney’s plan comes as federal officials announced that 20.05-million Canadians have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
That works out to about 63 percent of the population – putting the country closer to the 75 percent mark that officials say will trigger lifting many restrictions.
The vaccine rollout is also making good progress among Indigenous adults, with more than three quarters now having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
