Alberta to lift COVID-19 restrictions on Canada Day
Having immunized 70 per cent of its eligible population with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Alberta will lift public health restrictions in two weeks, Premier Jason Kenney announced Friday.
"Yesterday, Alberta officially surpassed the 70 per cent vaccination threshold to trigger Stage 3 of Alberta's 'Open for Summer' plan with 70.2 per cent of Albertans receiving their first vaccine dose," he said.
"We did it. You did it."
The premier thanked health care workers and congratulated Albertans on the achievement, saying he never doubted Albertans would "get 'er done in a true Alberta spirit."
"Thanks to vaccines and the millions of Albertans who have been protected by them, we finally have the upper hand on this virus and can safely open up our province," he said, speaking from a river valley viewpoint overlooking downtown Edmonton.
"So mark it on the calendar, folks, on July 1, Alberta isn't just open for summer, but I believe it'll be open for good."
Some COVID-19 rules will remain in place after July 1, such as isolation requirements for confirmed COVID-19 cases and preventative measures in care settings.
"As we approach July 1, I think that Dr. Hinshaw may be making some recommendations for example, limited mask use in certain contexts like…long-term care, continuing care settings, hospitals. She may have some other workplaces where that is called for. She and the department of health are working on a package in that respect," Kenney said.
ACCELERATING SECOND DOSE APPOINTMENTS
As well, Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced the next stage of second-dose eligibility to those who got their first dose in May, which he said was 11 days earlier than planned.
That makes another 1.1 million Albertans eligible for a second dose.
Those who received a first dose in June can book their second four weeks after they got their first shot.
"We are leading the country on second doses," Kenney said. "We're going to be hitting 25 per cent second-dose coverage by the end of this week. I think we'll be pushing 40 per cent second-dose inoculation by around Canada Day."
Following Thursday's advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization that anyone who received a first AstraZeneca dose should get an mRNA vaccine for their second shot, like himself, Shandro reminded Albertans the choice in brand is theirs.
However, he said evidence suggests it is best to book the second dose eight weeks after recieving the first AstraZeneca shot: "I want to emphasize that's not because of any concern about the AstraZeneca vaccine or because of supply or anything else, it's because it actually works better if you give it a little longer between those doses."
Both he and Kenney reminded Albertans two out of three $1-million prizes in Alberta's vaccine lottery require proof of full immunization to be claimed.
"First doses have been our ticket out of this pandemic, but second doses will make sure there's no return journey into it," Kenney said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
Significant police presence as Israeli flag flies at Ottawa City Hall
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.