Alberta Premier Jason Kenney made an exciting announcement this afternoon. Starting on July 1 the province will be entering Stage 3 of the ‘Open for Summer Plan’. The announcement comes after the province has officially given one or more COVID-19 vaccinations to 70 per cent of Alberta’s population. 

“On Canada Day, virtually all COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted. No more limits on weddings or funerals. No more bans on indoor social gatherings. No more limits for gyms, sports, and fitness activities. No more capacity limits at restaurants in retail or for places of worship. No more advisories against non-essential travel so long as you observe travel restrictions in other jurisdictions. Instead, we’ll get back to doing the things that we all love,” explained the Premier. 

The province’s case numbers have declined by 65 per cent since we started Stage 1 of the ‘Open for Summer plan’. 

The Premier is hoping to open for good by encouraging Albertans to get their second COVID-19 vaccine in order to stop the spread of virus variants as well. Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced that all Albertans who got their first doses starting in May can begin booking their second doses immediately. If you got your first dose in June, you will also be able to book your second dose as soon as four weeks have passed since your first dose. 

If you would like to book your second dose, you can do it here. 

Those who have received an AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose can choose to have a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their second dose if they wish. However, those who have received an AstraZeneca vaccine should wait eight weeks before scheduling their second dose in order to improve the vaccine’s effectiveness. 

Additionally, there is a new web-based portal for those who have received their first vaccination out-of-country. You can find that here. 

There will continue to be isolation requirements for those with confirmed cases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Masking will still be required in limited and specific settings. People will continue to be encouraged to stay home when they are sick and wash their hands regularly. 

“COVID will continue to be something we have to manage and something we have to respond like any other communicable infection but that’s the point. We’re transitioning from a pandemic that changes everything about how we live to a virus we can control with vaccinations and learn to live with, like other infectious diseases and other health problems,” said Shandro.