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As hospitalizations drop, Alberta prepares to relax restrictions on Monday

Last Updated Feb 5, 2021 at 2:55 pm MDT

A sign at the entrance of a pharmacy in Calgary advises people about health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – The province plans to ease some COVID-19 restrictions as early as Monday, as Alberta meets a key benchmark for hospitalizations.

At 517 hospitalizations right now, the province has hit the criteria needed for step one of its relaunch plan which is to get hospital numbers to under 600.

The Alberta government’s plan shows we could see restaurants, indoor fitness, and school-based sports reopen as early as Monday.

However, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said people need to keep doing their part and making sure hospitalizations continue to drop by keeping schools, long-term care centres, and others places safe.

“We have reached a place where we should be able to further ease measures on February 8, but we have seen cases rise and fall before.”

WATCH: ER doctors react to government’s approach to easing restrictions

 

The province’s plan calls for three weeks between each step so health officials can look at the case impacts.

The other three benchmarks the province must meet before re-opening more places are getting hospitalizations under 450, then 300, then 150.

“We all must keep doing our part to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community at large,” added Hinshaw.

Despite the welcome news for many restaurateurs and fitness owners, Dr. Hinshaw warned earlier this week that the number of patients currently in hospital is ten times higher than last May, when the province first began re-opening businesses.

This is why the province is taking a slow, phased approach to reopening compared to the previous re-launch.

Many in the medical profession are concerned over the easing of restrictions, saying the rising number of cases of the COVID-19 variant is worrisome.

Some ER physicians pleaded last month for the government to hold off on removing restrictions as they say doctors and nurses are still overwhelmed.

 

-With files from CityNews