Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced that the province will be heading back into step one of the path forward plan after seeing a significant rise is COVID-19 cases and case variants.

Here’s a look at what this means for the current restrictions:

Restaurants:

  • In-person indoor dining will not be permitted (effective April 9 at noon)
  • Curbside pick-up and delivery is encouraged
  • Patio seating will be permitted
  • Tables and dining parties must be 2 metres apart
  • People must stay seated unless using a washroom or paying
  • Liquor service ends at 10 PM
  • Patio dining must close by 11 PM
  • No entertainment allowed VLTs pool tables, live music etc.

Retail:

  • Retail services must limit customer capacity to 15 per cent their fire code occupancy (effective at midnight April 7)
  • Shop alone or only with shoppers you live with

Due to the sudden change in services, Premier Jason Kenney says there may be additional supports for restaurants may become available.

“Alberta’s government will provide a package of financial assistance for businesses affected by today’s measures and we’ll make an announcement on that in the very near future. For example we acknowledge that restaurants may lose some spoilable inventory and that others may have expenses to expand patio operations. We hope to be there as quickly to assist them in dealing with those costs,” explained Kenney.

Entertainment and Recreation:

  • All libraries must close
  • All entertainment businesses and entities must remain closed
  • Indoor recreation facilities may remain open for individual and household use including gyms, studios, fitness and recreation centres, spas, pools, indoor rinks, community halls and centres.
  • No trade shows are permitted.
  • Weddings ceremonies can have up to 10 people (no receptions allowed)
  • Funeral services can have up to 20 people (no receptions allowed)

Sports

  • No sports games competitions, team practice or league play of any kind is allowed
  • All group fitness activities are not permitted
  • Individual or household one-on-one training with a trainer is permitted
  • All indoor fitness must be scheduled (no drop-ins)
  • Masks must be worn by trainers at all times
  • Masks must be worn during low intensity exercise
  • Performance activities
  • Adult performance activities are not permitted.
  • Youth development activities such as Scouts, Girl Guides and 4H are allowed. Participants must be 18 years old and under.

Naturally, the premier is expecting some opposition to the new restrictions.

“I fully expect to hear some of those opinions publicly in the coming days and I welcome that. I’ve always welcomed a wide ranging debate on how best to rise to the challenge of this pandemic. I just ask that the debate be informed by facts,” said Kenney.

Active case numbers, hospitalizations, and now also the percentage of immunized Albertans will help guide the province towards lifting restrictions down the road. 

The Premier also gave his condolences as today marked a grim milestone with more than 2,000 Albertan lives lost due to the virus.

April 6th new case numbers:

  • 931 new cases of the virus for April 5th
  • 10,582 active cases in Alberta
  • 328 people are hospitalized
  • 76 people admitted to ICUs
  • 4 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours
  • 2,001 total deaths from the virus
  • 6,986 active case variants in Alberta (787 in the Central Zone)
  • Variants of concern make up 42.6 per cent of active cases

 

Active case numbers in the Central Alberta area:

  • 43 active cases in the City of Lacombe
  • 46 active cases in the County of Lacombe
  • 215 active cases in the City of Red Deer
  • 42 active cases in the County of Red Deer
  • 165 active cases in the County of Ponoka
  • 26 active cases in the Town of Sylvan Lake
  • 5 active cases in the County of Stettler
  • 32 active cases in the County of Mountain View

**Not all cases in the Central Zone have been included.