Banff 
Alberta is extending the timeline when the province ends mandatory isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19.
Alberta had originally planned to change quarantine and isolation requirements for individuals with positive COVID-19 test results on Monday.
The following restrictions which were to end on August 16th will now take place on September 27th.
- Mandatory masking orders in publicly accessible transit, taxis and ride-shares.
- Mandatory isolation for 10 days for those with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result.
- Testing at assessment centres for any symptomatic individual.
Announcing the changes, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said, “Through the pandemic, we have monitored the situation closely and adapted our response as necessary. Reviewing data from Alberta and across the globe in the past few weeks has led me to a point where I feel that a pause on the next changes is the best way forward. I deeply care about, and am committed to, the overall health of all in Alberta. This is why I base my decisions on science and my professional assessment of an ever-changing situation.”
Alberta says though a peak in admissions that would disrupt the health system at the provincial level remains extremely unlikely, the recent data from here in Alberta and other jurisdictions including the U.K. and U.S. shows a wide range of acute care impacts at a similar level of vaccination to Alberta’s. The government is extending the date for ending COVID-19 changes due to uncertainty and the potential for larger impacts of COVID-19 than previously anticipated.
Alberta reported 550 now COVID-19 cases on August 12th.
The province also released back-to-school guidelines for the 2021-22 school year. The province says though Alberta is not mandating masks in schools for any age group, except on school buses, both students and staff should screen daily for symptoms using the Alberta Health Daily Checklist and must isolate if they test positive or have the core COVID-19 symptoms.
