EDMONTON – The province says it will begin easing some of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions still in place in Alberta’s long-term care facilities.
Thanks to rising vaccine numbers, and very few cases in care homes, the government says it feels Alberta can safely move forward with the first phase of removing rules, including no longer limiting visitors.
“This is a measured, practical approach that lifts restrictions in an incremental manner as our vaccination rates continue to climb,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw in a release.
Today we are lifting the remaining restrictions on visitors, dining and recreation while leaving other critical protections in place for now. This phased, practical approach is designed to assist residents’ return to normal while keeping key protections in place. (2/6)
— Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health (@CMOH_Alberta) July 13, 2021
“The restrictions lifted today will go a long way to improving residents’ quality of life while critical protections will remain in place to protect their health.”
In the first phase, visitors will still need to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms or known exposure and masks will still be required in common areas.
However, the province strongly recommends you keep your mask on at all times when visiting a continuing care home if you have not been fully vaccinated, including children under 12.
Limits on dining or recreation activities have been eliminated, and residents won’t be required to be screened upon re-entering the building or are required to quarantine if they have gone off-site.
The province says there may be some specific cases where residents are required to quarantine still.
Care home operators have until the end of the month to implement the phase one changes laid out by the province.
The remaining restrictions, like enhanced cleaning, screenings, mask use, testing, and isolation regulations will remain in place until the government decides it is safe to move into the next phase of relaxing rules.
