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
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canada's longstanding blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma was harmful and discriminatory, Canadian Blood Services acknowledged on Friday, in issuing an apology to the LGBTQ2S+ community.