Premier Jason Kenney announced the new measures Tuesday (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

New Restrictions

Grade K-12 students going online as part of stronger COVID-19 restrictions

May 4, 2021 | 6:18 PM

Aiming to stem the recent surge in new daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the province, Premier Jason Kenney announced stronger public health measures in a televised address Tuesday.

With these new restrictions, Kindergarten to Grade 12 students province-wide will be moving online for two weeks starting on Friday, May 7 with the plan for students to return to in-person learning on Tuesday, May 25, after the long weekend.

“I know this is a real disruption for both kids and parents, but with the current level of community spread, we have 80,000 students and staff who are in self-isolation and will soon reach a point where many schools will not be able to operate,” said Kenney.

“This two-week reset will allow schools to come back for in-classroom instruction, right through to the end of the academic year.”

Other measures, most of which take effect May 5 and will be in effect for three weeks for municipalities with 50 or more active COVID-19 cases per 100,000 and more than 30 total active cases. This includes both the City and County of Grande Prairie:

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• Capacity for retail businesses is being lowered to 10 per cent of fire code capacity from 15 per cent.
• Personal and wellness businesses, such as barbershops, nail salons and tattoo parlours will also have to close as of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 9.
• Restaurants and bars must shutter all in-person dining, including for outdoor patios (province-wide, effective May 9 at 11:59 p.m.). Take-out and delivery services will be permitted.
• Workplaces with COVID-19 outbreaks will be forced to close for a minimum of 10 days
• Outdoor social gathering limits have been lowered to a maximum of five people, down from 10.
• No more than 10 people can attend a funeral, down from 20.
• Places of worship may only have 15 people at one time, down from an allowance of 15 per cent of fire code capacity.
• All indoor fitness must close, including for one-on-one services as of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 9.
• All outdoor sports and recreation qill be prohibited except with members of your household or, if living alone, two close contacts, effective 11:59 p.m. May 9. This is a decrease from the current limit of 10 people.
• Working from home remains mandatory unless the employer requires the employee’s physical presence to operate effectively.
• Health services, such as physicians, dentists, chiropractors and massage therapists can remain open by appointment only.

Basic fines have also been increased for those caught contravening the new public health measures, going from, $1,000 to $2,000 with the most severe penalties able to reach $100,000. The premier also promised tougher enforcement of public health measures.

“Because we will not tolerate those who endanger the health of their fellow Albertans, while the vast majority of people are doing the right thing,” said Kenney Tuesday.

Kenney also encouraged all Albertans who can to stay home as much as possible over the next three weeks, despite a stay-at-home order not being issued.

“I know all of this is discouraging to hear. Nobody wants to be here, especially after 14 months with multiple waves of this pandemic. But our committment to the health and safety of Albertans must come first.”

COVID-19’s impact on Alberta’s critical care system has reached new heights over the last week, as there were 150 people in an ICU with COVID-19 in Alberta as of Monday night.

Kenney says these restrictions must be brought in, as he cannot allow the province’s health-care system to be overwhelmed.

“If we want to guarantee a staffed hospital bed for every Albertans that may need one, for COVID or otherwise, then we have to stop the spike right now.”

With the threshold of at least 30 active cases of COVID-19 set by the province Tuesday for these new measures, that means Clear Hills County, Saddle Hills County, Birch Hills County, County of Northern Lights, M.D. of Spirit River, M.D. of Smoky River, M.D. of Fairview, M.D. of Greenview and Northern Sunrise County will be exempt these strengthened measures and will return to Step 0 level restrictions.

These areas will still see students in Grades K-12 move online for the next two weeks, while restaurants will have to shutter all in-person services as of Sunday night.

The full list public health restrictions in Alberta can be found on the province’s website.