COVID-19 info for Albertans

Practicing good hygiene habits can protect you and those around you from spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses:

• stay home if you are feeling sick
• wash or sanitize your hands often
• cover your coughs and sneezes
• avoid touching your face
• clean and disinfect surfaces regularly (for example, counters, doorknobs)

Crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces can increase the risk of spreading respiratory viruses. You can help prevent the spread by:

• opening windows when possible
• ensuring ventilation systems are maintained
• limiting time spent in crowded indoor places

Wearing a mask in public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. Wearing a mask can help reduce your risk of infection and help protect people from being exposed to your germs, especially those at high risk of severe outcomes. 

• Individuals who are at higher risk for severe outcomes from respiratory virus infections (for example, people who are immunocompromised) may want to wear a mask while indoors with others.

Learn more about the Guidance for masks for the general public.
 

Staying home when sick helps prevent the spread by reducing the number of people you could infect.

• If you have respiratory virus symptoms or test positive for any respiratory virus you should stay home until:
  • your symptoms have improved and
  • you are free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
• Anyone who is feeling unwell, regardless of whether they have tested positive for a respiratory virus or not, are advised to avoid visiting acute care or continuing care settings except when necessary (for example, to receive emergency care).
• Health care workers experiencing respiratory virus symptoms should follow their workplace policy.
• Hospitalized patients or residents in congregate care facilities or living sites should follow isolation recommendations directed by Acute Care Alberta and/or Assisted Living Alberta’s Infection Prevention and Control or the facility.

COVID-19 is transmitted through tiny respiratory droplets or aerosols produced by people who have the virus.

• The virus spreads most commonly by breathing in air that contains infected droplets from people coughing, sneezing, talking, laughing, and singing, or when the infected droplets come into direct contact with another person’s nose, mouth or eyes.
• The virus may also spread by touching objects or surfaces the virus has landed on and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• People who have COVID-19 can spread it to others before they start to feel sick.

COVID-19 does not appear to regularly transmit like measles through long-range transmission, but there are circumstances that raise the risk of aerosol transmission, such as crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces where people are engaging in activities like singing or high intensity exercise.

The virus generally only survives for a few hours on a surface or object, but it may be possible for it to survive several days under some conditions.

COVID-19 can cause a wide range of symptoms that can be mild to severe. You should stay at home if you have any of the following symptoms:

• fever or chills
• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• cough
• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• nausea or diarrhea
• loss or altered sense of taste/smell

Headache, fatigue and joint or muscle pain are also common symptoms of COVID-19. Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other viruses.

If you feel unwell with respiratory virus symptoms, you should stay home to prevent spreading illness, regardless of which virus is causing your symptoms.

• If you have mild symptoms, follow advice on how to care for yourself and others at home. Do not visit an emergency department for a PCR test.
• Call 911 immediately if you experience difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, feelings of confusion, or loss of consciousness.
• If you are unsure when to seek medical attention, call Health Link 811 for advice.

The Federal Government is no longer supplying the provinces and territories with free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.

COVID-19 rapid antigen tests for personal use may be purchased through some pharmacies or online retailers.

How to test

When using a respiratory virus rapid test, please follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

COVID-19 rapid tests work best when used for people who have symptoms. It is no longer recommended to use a rapid test on someone who does not have any respiratory virus symptoms.

Your health care provider will determine the best testing option.

Laboratory-based COVID-19 PCR testing can be ordered by a health care provider (for example: physician, nurse practitioner) and is available for:

• people at risk of severe outcomes if required to support their clinical care
• those living in specific high-risk settings for outbreak management purposes

Wastewater monitoring is one of many tools in understanding the overall burden of infection in a community and provides a broad picture of infection in a community.

The Alberta Wastewater Surveillance Program is a collaboration between the University of Calgary, University of Alberta, Alberta Precision Laboratories, and Ministry of Preventative and Primary Health Services.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been demonstrated to be present in the feces of a significant proportion of infected individuals, and individuals infected with COVID-19 may pass the virus in their feces, as such, wastewater can provide an indication of infection trends in a community.

• The wastewater surveillance data for the province can be viewed on the Alberta COVID-19 data dashboard.

On April 7, 2026, an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be made available at no cost to the following individuals in line with recommendations from Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI):

• Adults 80 years of age or older.
• Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors.
• Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment).
• Adults 65 to 79 years of age with underlying medical conditions that place them at higher risk of severe COVID-19.

Additional/second doses of provincially funded vaccines, meaning for those who received their fall dose, are available for eligible Albertans through a Primary Care Alberta (PCA) Public Health Clinic or a participating community pharmacy.

Eligible underlying medical conditions (individuals 65 to 79 years of age)

• cerebrovascular disease
• chronic liver diseases
• chronic lung diseases
• chronic kidney diseases
• cystic fibrosis
• diabetes mellitus, type 1 and type 2
• disabilities (for example, Down syndrome, learning, intellectual, or developmental disabilities; ADHD; cerebral palsy; congenital disabilities; spinal cord injuries)
• heart conditions (for example, cardiomyopathies, coronary artery disease, heart failure, etc.)
• mental health disorders (limited to: mood disorders, including depression; schizophrenia, spectrum disorders)
• obesity
• pregnancy
• tuberculosis

Eligible immunocompromising conditions (individuals 6 months of age and older)

• cancer (currently receiving treatment)
• HIV infection
• primary immunodeficiency diseases
• solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
• use of corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive medication or CAR T-cell therapy

Vaccine information for non-eligible Albertans

• For Albertans who are not eligible for a provincially funded dose based on the criteria above for second doses or below for fall 2025 doses, a participating community pharmacy may order for purchase an additional COVID-19 vaccine. PCA will continue to offer first doses for purchase.
• Albertans are encouraged to speak with their primary care provider to determine the best immunization plan for their needs.

• For Albertans who were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine during fall 2025, they can still receive it through a community pharmacy or Primary Care Alberta (PCA) Public Health clinics.
• Albertans who were not eligible for a provincially funded COVID-19 vaccine can still purchase their first dose through a community pharmacy or PCA Public Health clinics.
• Fall eligibility for Albertans 6 months of age and older includes:

Eligible health care workers

• Individuals actively registered with one of our colleges.
• Union members (for example, UNA, HSAA, AUNP, AUPE, CUPE) as well as individuals who work in patient-facing settings such as:
  • hospital staff (including students in health disciplines, contract workers and volunteers)
  • staff in community health settings (for example, clinical labs, home care, shelters)
  • medical first responders
  • staff in continuing care and supportive living
  • disability support workers and staff working in recovery settings
  • health care aides on the provincial registry
  • students training in facilities such as hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, continuing care homes and supportive living accommodations

Eligible underlying medical conditions

• cerebrovascular disease
• chronic liver diseases
• chronic lung diseases
• chronic kidney diseases
• cystic fibrosis
• diabetes mellitus, type 1 and type 2
• disabilities (for example, Down syndrome, learning, intellectual, or developmental disabilities; ADHD; cerebral palsy; congenital disabilities; spinal cord injuries)
• heart conditions (for example, cardiomyopathies, coronary artery disease, heart failure, etc.)
• mental health disorders (limited to: mood disorders, including depression; schizophrenia, spectrum disorders)
• obesity
• pregnancy
• tuberculosis

Eligible immunocompromising conditions

• cancer (currently receiving treatment)
• HIV infection
• primary immunodeficiency diseases
• solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
• use of corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive medication or CAR T-cell therapy

• Eligible Albertans can receive an additional dose at a community pharmacy, as well as Primary Care Alberta (PCA) Public Health clinics.
• For most individuals, an appointment can be booked if it has been at least 3 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine dose. This does not mean that Albertans are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine dose every 3 months.
• Children under 12 years of age and their families should book appointments through Primary Care Alberta (PCA) Public Health clinics. Book online through PCA or call Health Link at 811.
• All other eligible Albertans (12 years of age and older) can book appointments by contacting your local community pharmacy. Walk-in appointments may be accepted.
• All eligible Albertans living in a First Nation community will also be able to access the COVID-19 vaccine at a public health clinic on reserve.

• Find the latest approved vaccines in Canada.
• Currently only mRNA vaccines are available in Canada. There are no non-mRNA options in Canada for 2025-2026 (for example, Novavax).

• If you have concerns about any symptoms you develop after receiving the vaccine, speak with your health care provider or call 8-1-1 for advice.
• Overall, serious side effects from immunization are rare. The Alberta respiratory virus dashboard provides details about the number and types of adverse events following both COVID-19 and influenza vaccine administration.
• Always report serious or unexpected reactions to your health care provider or to the central Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) team.
• In Alberta, the reporting of adverse events following immunization is mandatory under the province’s Immunization Regulation.

• AHS COVID-19 vaccine info
• AHS Commitment to Comfort – Overcoming needle fear
• Government of Canada – COVID-19 vaccines for children

• Vaccines approved by Health Canada
• How vaccines are developed (video)
• Vaccine safety, concerns and side effects

• Facts about COVID-19 vaccines
• Pregnant and breastfeeding Albertans

• COVID-19 vaccine policy