EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — Alberta is set to enter a modified version of its Stage 2 COVID-19 reopening plan.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney began Monday’s COVID-19 update with the information some businesses across the province have been waiting days to hear.
Kenney says with 257 people currently in hospital fighting COVID-19, roughly 200 people below the previously set threshold, the province is ready to move into its next phase of reopening.
WATCH: Kenney, Shandro join Dr. Deena Hinshaw for provincial COVID-19 update
READ MORE: Calgary city councillors criticize this weekend’s anti-lockdown protests
The ease of restrictions include indoor fitness centres and libraries, though there are modified changes to what will be allowed.
Unsupervised low-intensity individual and group exercises will now be allowed by appointment only.
If you were looking to head back to your favourite gym for drop-in fitness, you will now need to make sure you’re booking in advance.
So, what is changing today in Alberta?
Here's what restrictions are being eased going partially into step 2. #yeg #yyc #ableg #covid19ab pic.twitter.com/WjQQVnjDVh
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) March 1, 2021
Libraries will now be allowed to have 15 per cent capacity.
Hotels, banquets, and conference centres along with retail services and children’s sports and performance delayed to Step 3.
Here are the things delayed for step three: pic.twitter.com/KFfC2BWWOo
— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) March 1, 2021
The move into Step 2 comes as the province reports 291 new cases of COVID-19 with 27 new cases of the B.1.1.7 variant being recorded.
The new numbers come as 5,933 tests were completed in the past 24 hours, a 4.9 per cent rate.
Forty-eight people are in the ICU fighting COVID-19.
Before the conclusion of the update, Health Minister Tyler Shandro took a moment to address vaccine distribution in the country.
“Our leading indicators wouldn’t be increasing if we received, in February, the same number of vaccines European countries got,” Shandro said.
Shandro went on to voice his displeasure with the lack of vaccines we have received, saying a bit of the problem we are facing is due, in part, to a shortage of vaccine deliveries.
“Vaccines equal freedom.”