Province eases restrictions on restaurants, children's activties, indoor fitness

The Government of Alberta has mapped a path towards easing restrictions, starting with the return to restaurant service, indoor fitness, and some children’s activities. 

Step 1 of Alberta’s four-step framework to ease restrictions is based on a COVID-19 hospitalization benchmark of 600, including intensive care patients. This benchmark was reached on Jan. 28. Come February 8 some restrictions on indoor dining at restaurants, as well as some school-related performances and sports-related activities, and indoor fitness, have been eased.

“Albertans have done a great job of bringing our numbers down from our peak in December,” said Premier Jason Kenney.  “We aren’t out of the woods yet, but there are opportunities where we can safely ease restrictions while also protecting our health-care system. This first step is a cautious one, and it will bring relief to many Albertans and Alberta businesses.”

Indoor and outdoor children’s sport and performance

• Children’s sport and performance activities are permitted if they are related to school activities, such as physical education classes.
• This will allow K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions to use off-site facilities to support curriculum-related educational activities.

Indoor fitness

• Only one-on-one training is permitted for indoor fitness activities (e.g. fitness in dance studios, training figure skating on ice, one-on-one lessons). 
• One-on-one sessions cannot interact with others and there must be a minimum of three metres distance between sessions in the same facility.
• Sessions have to be scheduled or by appointment.
• No drop-in for individuals or groups is allowed.
• No sports games, competitions, team practice, league play, or group exercise of any kind.
• Trainers must be professional, certified, and/or paid trainers who are providing active instruction and correction. Passive supervision of physical activity is not considered training.
• Trainers should remain masked during the session; clients are not required to wear a mask while exercising.
• More than one trainer and client ‘pair’ are allowed into the facility, studio, rink, court, pool, ice surface, etc., as long as: 

• Each trainer and client stays three metres away from all other trainers and clients at all times, including in entryways and exits.
• Each trainer only interacts with their assigned client, and each client only interacts with their assigned trainer.
• No interaction between clients or between trainers is allowed.
• No ‘cycling through’ multiple trainers, as in circuit training.

Restaurants, cafes, and pubs

• Restaurants, cafes, and pubs must collect the contact information of one person from the dining party.
• Up to a maximum of six people per table; individuals must be from the same household or the two close contacts for people living alone.
• Liquor service ends at 10 p.m.
• In-person dining must close by 11 p.m.
• No entertainment allowed (e.g., no VLTs, pool tables, live music, etc.)