Banff 
Credit: Alberta.ca
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says some COVID-19 public health measures will be eased on indoor fitness centres, school sports, and restaurants and bars. The changes are to start Feb. 8.
Kenney says hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have dipped below 600 and, while Albertans need to continue to be cautious, some rules can be relaxed.
One-on-one training will be permitted in fitness gyms, dance studios and skating rinks.
People from the same household can dine in restaurants, cafes and pubs, with liquor service ending at 10 p.m. and dining at 11 p.m.
School-related children’s sports and activities will be allowed to use off-site facilities.
Restrictions Easing on February 8th:
Indoor and outdoor children’s sport and performance:
- Children’s sport and performance activities are permitted if they are related to school activities, such as physical education classes.
- This will allow K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions to use off-site facilities to support curriculum-related educational activities.
Indoor fitness:
- Only one-on-one training is permitted for indoor fitness activities (e.g. fitness in dance studios, training figure skating on ice, one-on-one lessons).
- One-on-one sessions cannot interact with others and there must be a minimum of three metres distance between sessions in the same facility.
- Sessions have to be scheduled or by appointment.
- No drop-in for individuals or groups is allowed.
- No sports games, competitions, team practice, league play or group exercise of any kind.
- Trainers must be professional, certified and/or paid trainers who are providing active instruction and correction. Passive supervision of a physical activity is not considered training.
- Trainers should remain masked during the session; clients are not required to wear a mask while exercising.
- More than one trainer and client ‘pair’ are allowed into the facility, studio, rink, court, pool, ice surface, etc., as long as:
- Each trainer and client stays three metres away from all other trainers and clients at all times, including in entryways and exits.
- Each trainer only interacts with their assigned client, and each client only interacts with their assigned trainer.
- No interaction between clients or between trainers is allowed.
- No ‘cycling through’ multiple trainers, as in circuit training.
Restaurants, cafes and pubs:
- Restaurants, cafes and pubs must collect the contact information of one person from the dining party.
- Up to a maximum of six people per table; individuals must be from same household or the two close contacts for people living alone.
- Liquor service ends at 10 p.m.
- In-person dining must close by 11 p.m.
- No entertainment allowed (e.g., no VLTs, pool tables, live music, etc.)
Alberta’s Steps based on hospitalization benchmarks:
Kenney says if hospitalizations continue to decrease, further restrictions may be eased.
The next step, if hospitalizations are under 450, would be to change the rules for retail businesses, community halls, hotels, banquet halls and conference centres.
| STEP 1 <600 hospitalizations | STEP 2 <450 hospitalizations | STEP 3 <300 hospitalizations | STEP 4 <150 hospitalizations |
|---|---|---|---|
Potential easing in these areas:
| Potential easing in these areas:
| Potential easing in these areas:
| Potential easing in these areas:
|
— With Files From The Canadian Press
More information is available here.
