According to the province, Alberta will enter Step 3, the final stage of the reopening plan, which will end the mandatory isolation and mask on public transport. The change was announced Monday night by a government press release. Isolation for anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or who is positive will only be recommended by the province. Mandatory coverage rules at Alberta Health Services and other healthcare facilities will now be determined by individual locations. “We have to live with COVID-19 while we accept that it will continue to be present,” said Health Minister Jason Kopping. “We will continue to work to keep Alberts safe by ensuring access to vaccines, antivirals and rapid testing, through continuous monitoring of COVID-19 and enhancing the capacity of the healthcare system.”
Stmt by City Manager Andre Corbould: @YourAlberta lifts several health restrictions, including the requirement of carrying masks. The YEG statutory law ends with this change. From Wednesday morning, no masks are required on public transport. Riders are welcome to wear masks if they wish. – City of Edmonton (@CityofEdmonton) June 14, 2022 According to the province, the positiveness of the PCR test and the sewage monitoring data indicate a trend of “declining transmission of COVID-19”. Hospitalization rates have fallen since their peak on April 26, the county says, when hospital admissions in Alberta for COVID-19 were 20.7 per day per million population. As of last week, that number was 6.6 per day per million population. The county says it is preparing for the fall and winter respiratory virus season, including maintaining test and surveillance programs as it prepares to expand hospital capacity. In a statement, Dr. Dina Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer, said that learning to live with COVID-19 does not mean forgetting. “As we align the management of COVID-19 with other respiratory illnesses, it will continue to be vital that we receive our primary vaccine series and any additional booster doses we are entitled to and continue good habits such as regular hand washing and hand washing. “around others if we feel sick,” he said.
