Alberta Biz Connect

The guidance for emergency shelters and short-term and long-term transitional beds/units for Albertans facing family violence or homelessness and precarious housing is to stagger mealtimes to reduce crowding and enable physical distancing in shared eating facilities.

• Stagger the schedule for use of common/shared kitchens
• Provide bagged meals for clients to take away
• Stagger meals to specific cohorts/groups and floors

Each shelter in Alberta is unique and these guidelines are provided to help each site come up with its own plan to prepare and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, see Shelter Guidance: Preventing, Controlling and Managing COVID-19.

No. Employers must continue to meet existing occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements.

OHS questions and concerns can be directed to the OHS Contact Centre online or by phone at 1-866-415-8690 (in Alberta) or 780-415-8690 (in Edmonton).

Businesses should conduct a hazard assessment to identify existing and potential hazards related to COVID-19.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary when physical distancing of 2 metres or physical barriers cannot be maintained by administrative and engineering controls (like barriers or partitions, floor markings, limiting the number people in your business at one time).

Examples of PPE include gloves, eye protection, gown, face protections, procedure/surgical masks or NIOSH-N95 masks.

Masks must be worn properly to be effective. Find out how at alberta.ca/masks.

Businesses can purchase PPE by visiting the following procurement websites:

• Rapid Response Platform Canada
• ATB Nexus
• Federal Supply Hub

There are no provincial public health orders mandating the use of masks. However, some municipalities have bylaws in place requiring the use of masks in some situations and locations within their municipality. Examples include the City of Calgary, City of Edmonton and Town of Banff. Businesses must follow relevant municipal bylaws on mask use. Contact your municipality for more information.

Otherwise, businesses are responsible for determining appropriate measures to protect the health of staff and patrons.

This may include requirements for staff and patrons to wear masks if a business owner determines this step is necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

Learn how to wear masks properly

If an employer has met all of the requirements to resume operations, an employer can recall employees from a temporary layoff. If the employee does not return to work, the employment will be deemed terminated by the employee.

From a health and safety perspective, workers may suggest it is unsafe to return to work. Employees do have the right to refuse work – but this must be for a specific task/activity, and would not normally allow for workers to refuse to attend work.

For detailed information, contact:

• Employment Standards Contact Centre
• Occupational Health and Safety Contact Centre

An employer may request an employee, who is on a temporary layoff, return to work by providing the employee with a recall notice.

If an employee fails to return to work within 7 days of being served with the recall notice, the employee is not entitled to termination notice or termination pay if the employer decides to terminate the employee’s employment as a result of the employee’s failure to return to work.

Learn more about temporary layoffs

Yes, carpooling is permitted.

If you carpool, it's recommended to maintain physical distancing as much as possible, stagger seating and practice good hygiene. Anyone feeling unwell must stay home.

Preventative hygiene measures should also be followed, including:

• avoid touching your face
• wear a mask
• stay as far away from other passengers as possible
• sanitize hands when leaving the vehicle
• frequently sanitize commonly touched vehicle surfaces, such as door handles, seatbelt buckles, steering wheel, and dashboard

See: Guidance on wearing non-medical masks

Essential service workers can qualify for an exemption from the mandatory 14-day isolation period after arriving in Canada so they can attend worksites or provide services supporting critical infrastructure in Alberta, as long as they follow public health conditions.

Workers must qualify for a federal exemption and apply for a provincial exemption for Alberta. Workers must qualify under the essential service worker group exemption or have been issued a federal exemption before they will receive a provincial industry travel exemption.

To apply for a provincial industry travel exemption, complete the exemption request checklist available at: COVID-19 industry travel exemptions. If a worker is granted a provincial industry travel exemption, they will be able to attend an essential worksite, but must stay in their accommodation on modified quarantine/isolation unless providing an essential service as designated by their company for the first 14 days.

If a worker is coming to an Alberta worksite from within Canada, there are currently no mandatory quarantine requirements for interprovincial travel.

An employee may take an unpaid, job-protected leave to care for a child who is affected by a school closure or is participating in remote learning due to COVID-19. This leave may be accessed more than once between now and August 14, 2021 when this leave provision expires.

Guidance on restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars has changed in the following ways:

• Maximum occupancy limits have increased.
• There is no cap on capacity for restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars, as long as there is a 2-metre distance or appropriate barriers between dining parties.
• Some bar activities are now permitted, including billiards and darts.

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Restaurants/pubs in impacted communities must stop liquor sales by 10pm and close by 11pm, November 13 through to November 27. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures.

See the guidance for restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars for information on risk mitigation.

These are permitted to open. Some bar activities, such as billiards and darts, are permitted.

Please refer to guidance for restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars.

Comedy clubs are included in Stage 2.

Outdoor vocal and instrument performances (including wind instruments) are allowed.

Indoor vocal and instrument performances (including wind instruments) are also permitted where 2-metre physical distancing is possible between musicians.

Wherever possible, music performances should be held in outdoor settings to reduce the risk of transmission. For more information, see Guidance for Live Instrumental Music and Guidance for Singing and Vocal Performance.

Professional musicians, singers, actors, or performers are exempt from the two-week prohibition on group singing, dancing and performing activities that was introduced for some communities as part of enhanced public health measures.

Indoor vocal and instrument performances (including wind instruments) are permitted where 2-metre physical distancing is possible between musicians.

Wherever possible, music performances should be held in outdoor settings to reduce the risk of transmission. For more information, see Guidance for Live Instrumental Music and Guidance for Singing and Vocal Performance.

Professional musicians, singers, actors, or performers are exempt from the two-week prohibition on group singing, dancing and performing activities that was introduced for some communities as part of enhanced public health measures.

Yes. Please refer to guidance for restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars.

VLTs are allowed to operate as part of Stage 2. Prior to re-starting gaming operations, retailers must submit an operational plan to Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) detailing how they plan to meet the chief medical officer of health’s guidelines within their VLT area. More information is available in guidance for VLT retailers.

No. Table games are not currently allowed. For more information, refer to guidance for casinos and RECs.

For information on risk mitigation, refer to our guidance for bingo halls.

Personal service providers must continue to comply with requirements in the personal services regulation and standards. Operators are encouraged to call their local public health inspector with questions about compliance with the regulation and standards.

Personal and cosmetic enhancement services include, but are not limited to:

• esthetics, manicure, pedicure, body waxing, makeup
• body, nose and ear piercing, and tattoos
• artificial tanning and spray tanning
• facial, eyebrow and eyelash treatments
• cosmetic skin and body treatments
• laser hair and tattoo removal

Details are available in guidance for personal services (PDF, 329 KB).

For wellness and personal services, clients are encouraged to wear masks for their appointments. It is recommended that you have a supply of masks on hand and ask clients to bring their own mask. Mask changes may be necessary during services that are longer in duration. Masks should be changed if they become damp.

Businesses should conduct a hazard assessment to identify existing and potential hazards related to COVID-19 to help determine what type of controls, including the use of PPE, should be used.

A physical barrier (such as a clear acrylic sheet) should be placed between staff and clients when services are provided in a face-to-face manner (e.g., manicures, microderm abrasion, makeup application).

Barriers can be modified to allow hands to pass underneath but prevent droplet transmission.

Where barriers are not possible, it is expected that the worker wear a mask (non-surgical masks at a minimum).

More information is available in:

• guidance for wellness services (PDF, 310 KB)
• guidance for personal services (PDF, 329 KB)

Yes. Please refer to the guidance for personal services (PDF, 329 KB) on ways you can mitigate the risk to yourself and customers.

Yes, laser clinics are permitted to operate. Please refer to the guidance for personal services (PDF, 329 KB) on ways you can mitigate the risk to staff and clients.

Businesses should conduct a hazard assessment to identify existing and potential hazards related to COVID-19 to help determine what type of controls, including the use of PPE, should be used.

Physiotherapy as well as indoor fitness facilities and activities can resume operation. Refer to guidance for personal services (PDF, 329 KB).

These meetings can resume, but must follow the current restrictions on indoor gathering sizes. Other mitigations, such as physical distancing, are strongly encouraged. For risk mitigation suggestions, refer to General Relaunch Guidance.

Where sports and activities cannot be modified to maintain distance, the number of contacts between different participants should be limited. This is done by playing within set cohorts (e.g., mini-leagues, with a fixed number of participants). A cohort is defined as a closed, small group of no more than 50 individuals who participate in the same sport or activity, and remain together for the duration of Stage 2.

Mini-leagues should not exceed 50 people. This number includes those participants, officials, coaches and trainers who cannot maintain 2 metres of distance from others at all times. This number does not include parents and spectators.

Cohorts or mini-leagues should remain together during Stage 2 of Relaunch and only play within the same geographical region (e.g., within a county, town or quadrant of a city).

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Team sports are not permitted in impacted communities. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures.

For more information, see guidance for sport, physical activity and recreation – Stage 2 (PDF, 540 KB).

Pools, arenas, community centres, indoor gyms, indoor fitness centres, indoor studios and recreation centres that offer or provide access to sport, physical activity and recreation registered programming will be open as part of Stage 2. Examples include:

• Public gyms
• Private gyms
• Crossfit gyms
• Mobile/at-home personal training
• Sports camps
• Gymnastics clubs
• Dance organizations and training
• Yoga/hot yoga
• Pilates studios
• Boxing/martial arts/MMA
• Spin classes
• Zumba/dance fitness
• Aquasize
• Seniors’ fitness classes
• Municipal recreation centres
• Climbing walls
• Squash and racquet ball courts
• Indoor tracks
• Weight rooms
• Ice arenas
• Multi-use gymnasiums, fieldhouses and community centres

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Some indoor group fitness classes and team sports are not permitted in impacted communities. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures.

For more information, please refer to the guidance for indoor sport, physical activity and recreation (PDF, 663 KB).

Indoor interactive attractions and entertainment venues include:

• Arcades
• Trampoline parks
• Bowling alleys
• Billiard halls
• Mini-golf courses
• Laser tag
• Paintball

Indoor and outdoor pools are allowed to resume operations. This also includes hotel, motel, apartment and condo pools, provided that a responsible person is available to ensure compliance with the Guidance for Swimming Pools and Whirlpools (PDF, 335 KB).

Aquatic sports, diving, lane swimming, swimming camps and lessons, drop-in swimming, leisure aquatic features (such as lazy rivers, water slides and wave pools) are permitted to resume in Stage 2.

Indoor and outdoor hot tubs, whirlpools, dry saunas and steam saunas are also permitted to be open.

Activities that take place outdoors, that are not prohibited by the current public health orders, can resume with physical distancing, gathering limits and enhanced protection controls in place.

• Boot camps/organized group fitness – Outdoor fitness classes were permitted starting in Stage 1 of relaunch. More information is available in guidance for outdoor fitness.
• Outdoor theatre (Shakespeare in the Park, etc.) is permitted to resume as part of Stage 2. Please refer to guidance for live music dance and theatre.
• Walking tours can resume, provided current restrictions on outdoor and indoor gathering sizes are followed.

Yes. For risk mitigation, please refer to guidance for indoor sport, physical activity and recreation (PDF, 663 KB).

While these types of classes are permitted, consideration should be given to how to appropriately include or accommodate vulnerable people such as seniors and those with compromised immune systems (such as offering virtual methods of engagement, live streaming etc.).

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Some indoor group fitness classes and team sports are not permitted in impacted communities. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures.

These activities are all permitted to resume.

Sleepover camps are not permitted in Stage 2.

Escape rooms are able to resume as part of Stage 2. Please refer to the general relaunch guidance for risk mitigation.

Yes, bowling alleys can resume operations. Leagues and tournaments are permitted in communities not identified in the enhanced public health measures, but precautions are strongly recommended.

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Team sports are not permitted in impacted communities. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures.

For more information, refer to guidance for indoor sport, physical activity and recreation.

Yes. Pottery businesses can resume operations, provided risk mitigation is in place. Please refer to the general relaunch guidance.

Mini golf is permitted to resume. For indoor mini golf, more information is available in the Guidance for Indoor Recreation, Entertainment and Play Centres.

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Team sports are not permitted in impacted communities. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures.

In permitted communities, all aspects of organized sport, physical activity and recreation may proceed (programming, training, practice and competition).

For those activities where participants are unable to adhere to physical distancing, cohorts of a total of 50 individuals should be formed (mini-league).

Sports events, leagues and tournaments must comply with requirements in the Guidance for Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation.

While small events and leagues may resume, tournaments are discouraged in Stage 2 given the cohort requirements and the restriction on extra-regional play.

See information on gatherings and cohorts to learn more about guidance and restrictions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 when gathering in groups.

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Faith-based gatherings are limited to 1/3 capacity permitted in impacted communities. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures.

In permitted communities, places of worship do not have a capacity cap for worship services but must maintain 2 metres of distance between attendees who are not from the same household or cohort family.

This is to make sure people can access locations across the province and continue with their faith practices, while also reducing the risk of COVID-19.

Yes. Please review the guidance for places of worship for precautions and other risk mitigation.

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Group singing, dancing and performing activities are not permitted in impacted communities. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures.

Congregational singing is discouraged, and we recommend places of worship consider a soloist or instrumental music instead.

For more information, please refer to the guidance for places of worship.

Funeral services are permitted but must follow the maximum capacity limit for indoor and outdoor gatherings.

For more information, please refer to the guidance for funeral homes (PDF, 310 KB).

You are encouraged to wear a non-medical mask. Non-medical masks should be provided to staff and volunteers who are unable to maintain 2-metre physical distance from congregants.

Bingo halls and operations can resume with public health measures in place. Please review the guidance for places of worship and guidance for bingo halls for precautions and other risk mitigation.

These activities are permitted but must follow the current restrictions on indoor and outdoor gathering sizes. Additional precautions are also strongly encouraged to limit the risk of infection. For more information, please refer to guidance for places of worship.

To help limit the risk of transmission for attendees, Alberta Health recommends staying in the vehicle at all times at drive-in, drive-by and drive-through events.

Unless otherwise identified in public health orders, the following gathering restrictions are in place for events where attendees are able to leave their vehicle (to purchase something at concessions or attend other activities or settings outside of their vehicles): up to a maximum of 100 individuals with physical distancing between attendees is strongly encouraged.

For more information, please refer to guidance for outdoor events, graduations.

It is recommended that parades be postponed during Stage 2.

If parades occur, for the municipality/organizer:

• Choose a route that allows physical distancing between performers/participants and the audience, as well as between audience members
  • Consider multiple parades at different locations in the municipality
  • Consider virtual options for audience and participants/performers
• Ensure routes are appropriately blocked off and all traffic lights are disabled to allow for physical distancing
• Encourage audience members to wear masks and bring their own hand sanitizer
• Encourage clapping and non-aerosolizing noise makers; discourage singing and chanting
• Encourage attendees to download the ABTraceTogether app

For the performers/participants it is recommended that:

• Performers/participants remain inside decorated vehicles/bicycles
• Items/candies are not distributed to the audience
• If not in vehicles, formations that allow for physical distancing of 2-metres between individuals not from the same household/cohort and the audience are used (e.g. marching/walking, dancing)
• slogans or phrases are spoken, not yelled; canned music is played rather than live wind music played or singing
• there is greater than 2-metres between each group – care should be taken while the parade is on to maintain this distance
• masks are worn

For the audience:

• individuals should maintain at least 2-metres of distance from other individuals not from the same household.

See information on gatherings and cohorts to learn more about guidance and restrictions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 when gathering in groups.

For additional risk mitigation recommendations, please refer to guidance for outdoor events and guidance for public rallies, marches and demonstrations.

It is recommended that Albertans keep their core cohort group small, and limit the number of different people they are in contact with for prolonged periods of time.

Consider having households bring their own food; don’t share tongs or serving utensils between households.

Physical distancing of at least 2 metres between attendees is strongly recommended. For additional risk mitigation recommendations, please refer to guidance for outdoor events and cohort guidance.

See information on gatherings and cohorts to learn more about guidance and restrictions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 when gathering in groups.

For additional risk mitigation recommendations, please refer to guidance for outdoor events and cohort guidance.

The use of fire pits is determined by municipal governments and Albertans are encouraged to check with their local municipality about permitted use.

See information on gatherings and cohorts to learn more about guidance and restrictions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 when gathering in groups.

Effective November 13, new targeted public health measures are in place in communities across Alberta to protect the health system and limit the spread of COVID-19. Group singing, dancing and performing activities are not permitted in impacted communities. For information on these measures, including what communities are impacted, see enhanced public health measures. Professional musicians, singers, actors, or performers are exempt from this two-week prohibition.

In permitted communities, singing indoors can occur, however because it is a higher risk activity, precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of transmission.

The following precautions and others included in the Guidance for Singing and Vocal Performance should be observed:

• Ensure that ventilation systems are operational and functioning optimally. Refer to the General Relaunch Guidance (PDF, 129 KB) for more information on ventilation. Singing should occur in a room with a high ceiling, where possible. Singing should be avoided in small, enclosed spaces that lack adequate ventilation, such as bedrooms, dressing rooms, hallways or loading areas.
• Limit vocal activity to 30 minutes, followed by a 10-minute break to allow for air exchange in the room.
• Instructors, directors, conductors and all singers should wear masks, both when singing and when not singing.
• In indoor spaces, barriers are not recommended in place of wearing masks.
• A solo singer/vocalist may perform without a mask if alone in a dedicated space or room (e.g., a constructed acrylic plastic room).

Stay up-to-date with the latest guidance by visiting the Relaunch guidance documents web page.

• Operators must follow the Guidance for Trade Shows and Exhibiting Events, available here on the: Relaunch guidance documents page. The guidance requires all people who are not from the same household to maintain 2 metres’ distance, including when arriving to, and leaving from, the event.
• While there is no set capacity limit, operators must make sure this distance can be maintained at all times. For example, booths or stalls should be arranged to allow for physical distancing at all times.
• In addition, if a trade show or exhibition includes demonstrations or lectures, operators must adhere to the restrictions for seated/audience settings (e.g. 100 people at a seated indoor lecture, 50 people for informal demonstrations where people are gathered). See gatherings and cohorts for information on gathering sizes.

Meetings and other events can resume in community halls.

See information on gatherings and cohorts to learn more about guidance and restrictions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 when gathering in groups.

For more risk mitigation suggestions, see general relaunch guidance.

Theatres and other venues are expected to comply to the extent possible with requirements set out in the guidance for live music, dance and theatre.

Meetings, parties and other events can resume in common areas and must follow the current limits on indoor gathering sizes. Physical distancing should also be observed in elevators and mailrooms. Please refer to general relaunch guidance for risk mitigation suggestions.

Buildings with common areas that have indoor activities such as billiards or darts should refer to the Guidance for Indoor Recreation, Entertainment and Play Centres (PDF, 474 KB).

Participants are expected to maintain a distance of 2 metres in lobbies, change rooms, multi-purpose rooms, free-weight areas. For high-intensity physical activity (e.g., rows of treadmills and elliptical machines), consider physical barriers or at least 3 metres distancing between equipment. Exceptions to physical distancing can be made for those who are from the same household.

For more information, please refer to the guidance for sport, physical activity and recreation — Stage 2.

No more than 6 individuals are allowed to sit at larger tables in these settings. It is recommended that only members of the same household or cohort family be seated together at a table. Please refer to guidance for restaurants, cafes, pubs and Bars.

Worship services do not have capacity limitations as long as 2 metres of physical distance is maintained between cohorts.

Meetings and other events can resume in common areas and must follow the current recommendations for physical distancing and limits on indoor gathering sizes.

See information on gatherings and cohorts to learn more about guidance and restrictions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 when gathering in groups.

Please refer to the following guidance for additional risk mitigation recommendations:

• general relaunch guidance
• places of worship guidance
• indoor events guidance

Not all businesses will have specific information that applies to them. Review the general relaunch guidance and work with provincial or national organizations in your sector to define best practices.

If you still have further questions, email bizconnect@gov.ab.ca.

Albertans should only belong to one core cohort and still need to keep it small and safe as possible.

When participating in other types of cohort groups, you should:

• interact outdoors if possible – it’s safer than indoors
• avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places and close contact settings
• keep the cohort in your local community or neighbourhood to reduce geographic spread
• be healthy and not show any COVID-19 symptoms (see the full symptom list)
• have not travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days
• have not been in close contact with a case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• keep track of where you go, when you are there and who you meet
  • this will be helpful if someone is exposed to COVID-19

Those who are at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 (for example, seniors or those who have underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) may wish to form smaller cohorts, and/or only cohort with people who have no sports, recreation or child care cohorts to minimize exposure potential.

For more advice on forming cohorts, see guidance for cohorts (PDF, 370 KB) .

Outdoor vocal and instrument performances (including wind instruments) are allowed. Indoor vocal and instrument performances (including wind instruments) are permitted where 2-metre physical distancing is possible between musicians.

Professional musicians, singers, actors, or performers are exempt from the two-week prohibition on group singing, dancing and performing activities that was introduced for some communities as part of enhanced public health measures.

Wherever possible, music performances should be held in outdoor settings to reduce the risk of transmission.

Musicians should limit the number of performance groups in which they participate.

Musicians should wear masks when not playing wind instruments.

Musicians should use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol content before and after playing.

Individuals at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 should not play wind instruments, and should not be near those playing wind instruments.

For more information, see Guidance for Live Instrumental Music and Guidance for Singing and Vocal Performance.

Day camp programs may operate in cohorts of 50 people. This includes both staff and children.

A cohort is defined as a group of children and staff members assigned to them who stay together throughout the day.

Staff members, parents or guardians and children must not attend the program if they are sick.

Staff must ask parents and guardians to check the temperatures of their children daily before coming to the program.

For more information, refer to Guidance for Day Camps.

As driver and motorcycle training businesses are not specifically prohibited to operate, they may operate in accordance with all public health orders related to business, including physical distancing. Operators must continue to be in full compliance with any requirements and regulations for driver training.

Road tests are being prioritized to manage demand within available personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies. Limited road testing is being conducted to support commercial drivers, including school bus drivers, and health-care workers.

Alberta Transportation is working to resume road tests for all classes of driver’s licences. Protocols, including the use of PPE, have been established to allow road tests to be conducted in a manner that helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. As PPE supplies are increasingly available, more tests for more licences will be made available.

Albertans can visit the driver’s road test web page for more information and how to apply online for road tests.

Additional information for driver training providers (PDF, 131 KB) and about driver testing.

Yes. The use of masks by both the student and tutor in situations where physical distancing isn’t possible is strongly encouraged.

Yes.

Playing musical instruments may proceed both indoors and outdoors where 2 metre physical distancing is possible between musicians.

Learn more in guidance for live instrumental music.

See guidance for live music, dance and theatre. As well, see the General Relaunch Guidance for more information on risk mitigation.

Movie theatres must set up processes and infrastructure to support 2 metres of distance to be maintained between patrons or households (groups of patrons attending together should be reminded that distancing should be maintained between people outside the same household or cohort family) in the lobby, concession area and theatre rooms.

A maximum of 100 people are permitted per theatre room, as long as physical distancing can be maintained.

For additional risk mitigation, please refer to the guidance for movie theatres.

Ensure attendees are aware of practices in place by posting signage in highly visible locations or displaying messages on digital screens that outline:

• Physical distancing requirements (2 metres)
• Prohibitions on attendance by attendees who are sick or isolating
• Hand hygiene
• Coughing and sneezing etiquette
• Cleaning and disinfection practices

Please refer to the guidance for libraries.

• COVID-19 public health orders are enforceable by law, and Albertans and Alberta businesses must follow the orders issued by Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, under the Public Health Act.
• Individuals can report concerns online to AHS public health inspectors.

• See the Government of Alberta’s General Relaunch Guidance document.
• Relaunch/Return to Work plans should consider the following areas: communicating with attendees about COVID-19, mental health, quarantine and isolation, infection prevention and control measures, sector-specific guidelines and non-compliance.
  • The General Relaunch Guidance document includes a template and screening checklist that can be used or adapted.
• For productions where staff are unable to physically distance or use PPE, the production can consider the creation of a cohort. See Guidance for Cohorts.
• See gatherings and cohorts for information on gathering sizes.

Businesses allowed to reopen in Stage 1 and 2 are subject to strict infection prevention and control measures, and will be carefully monitored for compliance with public health orders.

If Albertans are concerned that businesses are not following public health orders, they can:

• remind the business owner or operator that not following public health orders is against the law and puts people at risk
• submit a complaint online to AHS public health inspectors
• call 1-833-415-9179 to submit a complaint by leaving a message when prompted

Complaints that require an immediate response can also be reported to your local police force through their administrative phone line. Please do not call municipal 911 services.

Alberta's chief medical officer of health issues frequent updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta and COVID-19 case numbers are updated daily.

COVID-19 info for Albertans

Talk to a small business strategist at Business Link for one-on-one coaching, advice and information on COVID-19 resources and supports.

Connect with a business strategist

Submit your question online or contact them directly.

Toll free: 1-800-272-9675 (Canada only)
TTY: 1-800-457-8466 (For the deaf or hard of hearing)
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed weekends and statutory holidays)

The COVID-19 pandemic can have a significant impact on mental health.

Online resources are available if you need advice on handling stressful situations.

• Help in Tough Times (AHS)
• Mental health and coping with COVID-19 (CDC)

If you need to talk, call the 24-hour help lines:

• Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642
• Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322

For more information, visit COVID-19 info for Albertans.