Day camps, places of worship reopening
After entering the first phase of economic relaunch at a slower pace than the rest of the province because of a high number of active cases, Calgary and Brooks will be allowed to reopen day camps, summer school, places of worship and funeral homes Monday.
The two cities will finally catch up to the rest of the province, which fully entered the first phase of the provincial government’s relaunch strategy on May 14. Overall in Alberta, case numbers have declined and hospitalizations remain low, with 6,283 recoveries reported Sunday and 52 people currently in hospital, including six requiring intensive care.
With strict limitations, day camps, summer schools and preschools in Calgary can now open for the summer, which is a gamechanger for families who have had their children home from school since classes were cancelled in March and now have parents returning to work as restrictions ease.
Day camps will look different than they have previously because of the Alberta government’s regulations, according to the University of Calgary’s website.
“The changes include limiting groups to 10 people (including staff) and reducing the overall number of camp offerings. The changes also include updating parent and guardian responsibilities, such as the requirement to check your child’s temperature each day prior to attending camp,” says the university.
The University of Calgary is still working on a list of modified camp options and schedules to comply with regulations.
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s summer camp schedule is still under review until they can determine the best way forward with the government’s guidance, said SAIT spokesperson Chris Gerritsen.
The provincial government has posted industry-specific regulations for businesses in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 at Alberta Biz Connect.
Places of worship can have no more than 50 people or one-third capacity — whichever is less — and the government has posted regulations for people’s interactions, singing and seating while attending a faith-based service or activity.
“It is important that places of worship understand that the potential for spread of infection during gatherings is very high, and several large super-spreading events globally have taken place in faith-based gatherings,” says the government’s website.
The first phase still prohibits gatherings of more than 15 people indoors or more than 50 people outdoors, at arts and culture festivals, major sporting events, concerts, movie theatres, recreation centres and gyms, among other things.
It is still being advised that people limit their travel and work remotely when possible to avoid unnecessary interactions with people.
Limited visitor access to Banff National Park will start on Monday after weeks of closures, while the towns of Banff and Canmore will be closing selected roads to vehicle traffic for the summer to allow for safe physical distancing of pedestrians.
Banff ’s town council voted to allow only pedestrian traffic along the 100 and 200 block of Banff Avenue from June 5 to Sept. 11. Canmore’s council similarly voted to create a pedestrian-only Main Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue.
Banff council also approved the closure of a portion of Caribou Street between the Banff Avenue/bear Street laneway and the Banff Avenue/beaver Street laneway, and are waiving business fees associated with sidewalk seating and outdoor merchandising permits for 2020 in an effort to offer businesses more space to allow for safe physical distancing while operating.
Parks Canada said on its website that only areas in Banff National Park that allow for activities where health and safety risks can be managed will be available for visitation.
“We are asking visitors to be cautious and conservative in their use of these places, to observe travel restrictions, respect closures, follow the guidance of public health experts, and to make every effort to keep one another safe,” Parks Canada’s website says.
Some trails, day-use areas and green spaces will reopen at the beginning of June, while all camping facilities remain closed until at least June 21.
Alberta Health Services has expanded testing for COVID -19 to include anyone in Alberta, whether they have symptoms or not.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, posted on Twitter Sunday about the number of tests completed.
“This past week, we achieved a major milestone in our fight against COVID-19. We have completed a quarter-million tests in Alberta. Thank you to lab staff and health professionals for all of their hard work,” Hinshaw said.
A total of 260,365 tests have been completed by labs and 235,415 Albertans have been tested.
In the 24 hours before Sunday’s update, 3,138 of those tests were completed and 18 new cases of COVID-19 were detected.
Alberta Health had no new deaths to report Sunday, though one death was announced Saturday, that of a man in his 70s who was a resident of the Intercare Brentwood Care Centre.