Premier Jason Kenney says most Alberta businesses can re-open Thursday as Phase One of the re-launch moves ahead.

The exceptions are Calgary and Brooks which combined have three-quarters of the active cases in Alberta.

Kenney says the government's able to go ahead because of the work health care providers and the public's done to keep COVID-19 cases much lower than expected.

"The probable projection in the April 28 modeling projected that hospitalizations would peak at 600 COVID patients in mid-May while ICU admissions were expected to peak around 190 at the same time," Kenney says. "Instead, combined hospitalizations and ICU admissions peaked at 96 on April the 30th and have been falling since."

High River is included with the rest of the province in being able to open Thursday.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the numbers in the local area have dropped enough for the town to go ahead and re-open.

"When we looked at the data in respect to cases in High River there had been, a couple of weeks ago a higher number of active cases in that community but most of those cases have now resolved and the rates in that particular community, at the moment, are not significantly higher than the rest of the province so in High River the data didn't indicate a need for any kind of differential opening," Dr. Hinshaw says.

With increased infection prevention and control measures to minimize the risk of increased transmission of infections, some businesses and facilities can start to resume operations on May 14 in all areas except the cities of Calgary and Brooks:

  • Retail businesses, such as clothing, furniture and bookstores.
  • All vendors at farmers markets will also be able to operate.
  • Museums and art galleries.
  • Daycares and out-of-school care with limits on occupancy.
  • Hairstyling and barbershops.
  • Cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars will be permitted to reopen for table service only at 50 per cent capacity.
  • Day camps, including summer school, will be permitted with limits on occupancy.
  • Post-secondary institutions will continue to deliver courses; however, there will be more flexibility to include in-person delivery once the existing health order prohibiting in-person classes is lifted.
  • Places of worship and funeral services, if they follow specific guidance already online.
  • The resumption of some scheduled, non-urgent surgeries will continue gradually.
  • Regulated health professions are permitted to offer services as long as they continue to follow approved guidelines set by their professional colleges.

In Calgary and Brooks, the relaunch will be gradual over 18 days due to higher COVID-19 case numbers in these communities.

Stage one – cities of Calgary and Brooks

Opening May 14:

  • Retail businesses, such as clothing, furniture and bookstores.
  • All vendors at farmers markets will also be able to operate.
  • Museums and art galleries.
  • Daycares and out-of-school care with limits on occupancy.
  • The resumption of some scheduled, non-urgent surgeries will continue gradually.
  • Regulated health professions are permitted to offer services as long as they continue to follow approved guidelines set by their professional colleges.

Opening May 25:

  • Hairstyling and barbershops.
  • Cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars will be permitted to reopen for table service only at 50 per cent capacity.

Opening June 1:

  • Day camps, including summer school, will be permitted with limits on occupancy.
  • Post-secondary institutions will continue to deliver courses; however, there will be more flexibility to include in-person delivery once the existing health order prohibiting in-person classes is lifted.
  • Places of worship and funeral services, if they follow specific guidance already online.

 

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