With 70.2 percent of eligible Albertans having been vaccinated with at least one dose as of June 17, Alberta will move to Stage 3 on July 1, effectively removing all mandatory restrictions.
The Alberta government announced Friday it has reached its final Open for Summer threshold, triggering a two-week waiting period before Stage 3 begins.
“This is a great day for Alberta!” said Premier Jason Kenney. “Thanks to the diligence of Albertans and the decision of 2.7 million folks to get vaccinated, we are now just two weeks away from getting our lives back to normal.”
“This is an important milestone and a great achievement, but we will not stop here,” he said. “We will keep administering first and second doses as quickly as possible so we’re not just open for summer, but open for good.”
Alberta will be the first province in Canada to reopen fully.
No more limits on weddings or funerals.
No more bans on indoor social gatherings.
No more limits for gyms, sports, and fitness activities.
No more capacity limits on restaurants, retail or places of worship.
And no more advisories against non-essential travel – so long as you observe travel requirements in other jurisdictions.
Kenney praised Alberta’s health care workers and Alberta Health Services for designing and executing the province’s vaccine rollout strategy.
With 70.2 percent of eligible Albertans having been vaccinated with at least one dose as of June 17, Alberta will move to Stage 3 on July 1, effectively removing all mandatory restrictions.
However, isolation requirements for confirmed cases of COVID-19 and protective measures in continuing care settings may remain, and masking may still be required in limited and specific settings, including long-term care facilities.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro also praised Albertans for rolling up their sleeves to get protected. “The end of this pandemic is near,” he said.
But, he urges those on the fence to get their shot, citing the province will draw the first $1 million lottery prize and that registration for the first lottery ends at the end of day June 24.
Anyone in Alberta aged 18 is eligible to enter the first Open for Summer Lottery draw. The winner will be announced on July 1, when Alberta officially enters Stage 3.
2,671,564 eligible Albertans have now received their first dose, including more than 25 percent fully vaccinated with two doses.
The province is urging Albertans who received their first dose of AstraZeneca to wait a minimum of eight weeks before booking their second dose to ensure the ‘best effectiveness’.
Those who had their first immunization with Pfizer or Moderna (mRNA vaccine) four weeks ago or more can book their second dose through the Alberta Health Services online booking tool, by calling Health Link at 811 or through participating physician offices or pharmacies.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
