No more proof of vaccination in Alberta

Starting today, the Government of Alberta has implemented the first step of a three-step plan to lift province-wide COVID-19 public health measures. Individuals are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination with a QR code, negative COVID-19 test, or a valid medical exemption letter in order to enter businesses or entities in the restaurant, retail, entertainment, indoor fitness, and festival/event sectors.

Step one

Effective 11:59 p.m. on February 8, 2022, the Government of Alberta has now ended the Restrictions Exemption Program (“REP”) in its entirety, and has removed capacity limits on venues under 500 capacity. Certain restrictions, such as capacity limits for large facilities and entertainment venues, indoor social gatherings, among other sector-specific restrictions, continue to remain in force.

Mandatory work-from-home measures remain in place unless the employer ‎has determined a physical presence is required for operational ‎effectiveness.‎

Masking requirements

Masks continue to remain mandatory in all indoor public spaces, workplaces, and places of worship. Employees must continue to wear a face mask in all indoor work settings, except while alone in ‎work stations.‎

Effective 11:59 p.m. on February 13, 2022, children 12 years of age and under will no longer be subject to the mandatory masking requirement in all settings. Children and youth will also no longer be required to wear a mask while in school.

Isolation requirements

Isolation is still legally required in Alberta for individuals who have COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive:

• Fully vaccinated individuals must isolate for a minimum of five days or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer, starting on the first day of symptoms or upon confirmation of a positive test result. Following isolation, fully vaccinated individuals must wear a mask at all times when around others outside of their home for up to five additional days.
• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must isolate for a minimum of ten days or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer, starting on the first day of symptoms or upon confirmation of a positive test result.

Step two

Effective March 1, 2022, subject to hospitalization rates continuing to trend downward, Step two will end the mandatory work-from-home measures, indoor masking requirements, large venue capacity limits, remaining school requirements, and indoor social gathering limits.

Step three

The effective date of Step three will be announced at a later date, and will be contingent on hospitalization rates continuing to trend downward. Under the current plan for Step three, mandatory isolation requirements will be removed and become a recommendation only, and COVID-specific measures in continuing care will also be removed.

For further information, please consult our ‎Coronavirus Resource ‎Centre or feel free to ‎contact any member of our DLA Piper Canadian Employment and ‎Labour Law Service ‎Group, who will ‎‎ensure that you are acting upon the most up-to-date information.

This article provides only general information about legal issues and developments, and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Please see our disclaimer for more details.