Alberta lifts most remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandate

Alberta has moved into the second phase of its recovery plan, lifting most of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions as of Tuesday, March 1.

Premier Jason Kenney says improving data allowed us to make this step.

“We can with confidence that the numbers continue to decline rapidly despite those important measures we took three weeks ago to open up,” Kenny previously said.

COVID-19 case numbers provided by the province have been stable these past few weeks as Alberta comes out of the last leg of the Omicron variant.

“We are in a position to safely move to step two [of] our path back to normal and remove the vast majority of remaining public health measures in Alberta.”

On Feb. 28, Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced 383 new cases had been reported in the past 24 hour period, with 1,835 tests completed. While the positivity rate was reported as 20.8 per cent, it’s likely the actual number of infections in Alberta is higher due to testing constraints.

Over the past 24 hours, we ID’d 383 new cases & completed 1,835 tests. Our positivity rate was 20.8%. Sadly, 14 new COVID-related deaths were reported to AB Health in the past 72 hours. (2/4)

— Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health (@CMOH_Alberta) February 28, 2022

Another 14 COVID-related deaths were reported in Alberta Monday for the 72-hour period preceeding.

What Alberta restrictions are changing?

As part of Alberta’s move to step two of its recovery plan, the province is lifting its mask mandate for most settings.

“Minister Copping will provide additional details but beginning on March 1st that is to say effective 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 28 we will end the provincial mask mandates – though masking will still be required in higher-risk settings including public transit and Alberta Health Service operated facilities like hospitals and continuing care settings [including] nursing homes across the province,” said Kenny. 

In addition to dropping masking requirements, with a few exceptions, Alberta will also no longer have capacity limits at large venues, and bars can operate as normal.

“We will also remove all capacity limits for venues and end restrictions on interactive activities on liquor services and operating hours for our bar and restaurants and hospitality venues,” said Kenny.

“We will remove all social gathering limits and we will lift the remaining school requirements and we’ll end health screening for youth activities which is the only requirement or remaining measure applied to children and teenagers.”

Mandatory work from home orders will also be lifted.

Read More:

• Alberta to lift most remaining COVID-19 restrictions Tuesday

• Canada eases international travel restrictions for fully vaccinated

• Alberta premier to announce next phase in lifting COVID restrictions

What COVID restrictions remain in Alberta’s step 2?

While most remaining restrictions are being lifted, some remain in place.

The province is keeping its COVID-specific continuing care measures as part of step two of the recovery plan, saying these will be removed as part of step three should hospitalizations continue to trend downward.

Mandatory isolation requirements also remain in place for the time being, with the province saying they will instead become recommendations in step three if hospitalization rates allow.

The province’s vaccine passport requirement ended earlier this month.