Two doses required as of Monday under Alberta's Restrictions Exemption Program
The latest layer of protection against COVID-19 in Alberta takes effect Monday as two doses will be required when providing proof of vaccination.
Businesses and events using the Restrictions Exemption Program will now need to see valid proof of both doses or a negative test result within 72 hours.
Until Monday, having only a first dose of vaccine was enough to get you into a restaurant or event. The gradual progression was designed to give Albertans more time to react to the COVID-19 measures.
For one Edmonton pub, the identification process has become second nature to many customers.
“People come up ready to go with their passport out,” said Scott Krebes from Kelly’s Pub. “It’s been pretty seamless. I think people are starting to see that it’s worth it so we can just get back to normal.”
The newest change comes as COVID-19 infections in Alberta and hospitalizations suggest a downward trend.
In the last month and a half, Alberta’s total population has seen a six per cent increase in those who are fully vaccinated, increasing from 60 to 66.6 per cent.
The province administered more than 70,000 doses last week alone.
While the horizon may look promising, one Alberta doctor says the province cannot afford to lose focus and relax.
“We are winning, that’s very clear,” said Dr. Joe Vipond, Calgary ICU physician. “What we need to do is stay the course and that we don’t lift restrictions too early to make sure our gains we’ve fought so hard for aren’t immediately reversed.”
- COVID-19 in Alberta: 12 deaths, 656 new cases on Friday
- How to celebrate a safe Halloween, according to Alberta's top doctor
Vipond added that the vaccine passport and mask mandates are clearly helping. In the month the measures have been in place, the positivity rate, active case rate, and ICU admissions have dropped.
In his view, now is not the time to drop restrictions or lose vigilance.
“We are going in the right direction,” he said. “It (the provincial positivity rate) was 12 per cent three weeks ago. So let’s put things in relativity.”
As the new vaccine requirement comes into effect, Alberta Health Services continues to push public awareness campaigns encouraging vaccination, especially as vaccine uptake remains low in rural areas of the province.
- Independence, skepticism drive low vaccination rates in rural Alberta
- Low vaccination rates in rural communities affecting urban hospital
Recent social media posts showed an inside look at patients in the ICU. On the less serious side, an AHS post tackles a misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines causing impotency in men.
“In fact the opposite could be true. We know that patients who get sick with COVID-19, even mild illness can experience erectile dysfunction,” said Dr. Keith Rourke, Kaye Edmonton Clinic urologist.
“Mask on up to keep it up. Vaccinate so you can fornicate.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
An interprovincial investigation into an 'emergency grandparents scam' that targeted seniors across Canada has led to the arrest of 14 suspects, Ontario Provincial Police say.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
'Wild, wild west.' Families say organs of deceased Alabama inmates have been removed without their consent
The state Department of Corrections and the University of Alabama at Birmingham face disturbing allegations from the families of five inmates whose organs were removed and reportedly kept without consent, according to a series of lawsuits.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Juror dismissed from Trump hush money trial as prosecutors seek to hold former president in contempt
A juror in Donald Trump's hush money trial was dismissed Thursday after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair and impartial, and the status of a second New Yorker picked for the panel was in limbo amid concerns that some of his answers in court may not have been accurate.