Banff 
Credit: Government of Alberta
Alberta is relaxing its COVID-19 rules on gathering just a teeny bit for Christmas.
Premier Jason Kenney says starting Wednesday and for the following five days a person living alone can attend one family gathering in another household.
A household may have up to two single people as guests. It’s an exception to a public health order brought in two weeks ago that bans any indoor or outdoor gatherings through the new year to try to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Restrictions announced on December 8th allowed those who lived alone to have two contacts but did not allow household visits.
Alberta has loosened the gathering restrictions so that individuals who live alone may join another household for one gathering only from Dec. 23 to 28.
- While CMOH Order 42-2020 allows up to 2 close contacts for people who live alone, these must be the same 2 people while the order is in effect.
- An exemption will be made to this restriction to allow people who live alone to join a new household (not necessarily one of their current close contacts) for one event.
- A household must only host a maximum of 2 people who live alone (and their minor children) and only one event.
- If gathering with someone who is at higher risk of severe outcomes, such as someone over 65 years of age, make sure that all gathering safety measures are applied continuously. Find a way to enable that person to participate while being able to maintain 2 metres of distance from all others, make sure they have access to hand sanitizer, and consider asking others to wear masks when distancing may not be able to be maintained.
Premier Jason Kenney said, “This is a small change that was just adopted based on advice from the minister of health, with input from the chief medical officer, by the COVID cabinet committee, and it will make a world of difference for single Albertans who otherwise would not be able to visit their families over Christmas.”
“Similarly, it will allow parents who would otherwise spend Christmas alone to welcome their children home for the holidays.”
All other restrictions remain in place and close contacts are limited to household members only.
