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Kenney optimistic about relaxing COVID-19 measures this summer

Premier says government should have concrete plans by the end of February
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Jason Kenney is hoping that COVID-19 measures can be relaxed by this summer if case numbers continue to plateau. (photography by Paul Taillon/Office of the Premier)

The Alberta government is slowly working towards a plan about what the summer might look like for Albertans.

In a Facebook live question and answer, premier Jason Kenney said he hopes by the end of February the government will have a concrete plan about what restrictions and measures will be in place so summer activities can be planned.

“I am hopeful that with the plateau in cases we’re seeing now, plus the expected decline in numbers coming from our most recent restrictions and the growing positive effect of the vaccination program, that we will be able in a position by the summer, significantly to reduce, but not completely eliminate public health measures,” Kenney said.

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He explained government officials are still unsure about what the implications will be for summer festivals or rodeos – still he’s hopeful that it will be more flexible than last summer.

“I’ll go on a limb here, outdoor events I think we have more flexibility than we do for smaller indoor events, for obvious reasons,” Kenney said.

In the same live conversation Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said she feels that based on what they know about the virus, this summer should be better than last year.

“We know that this virus has a clear seasonal pattern of spreading much more easily in the winter months,” she said.

“There’s lots of things that we anticipate will be in place next summer that will be protective and at the same time, it is likely we will have some type of protective measures, hopefully, less than we needed to have last summer because of course we are going to have a lot more protections in place and more vaccine available.

“I do think there’s hope.”



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Byron Hackett

About the Author: Byron Hackett

Byron has been the sports reporter at the advocate since December of 2016. He likes to spend his time in cold hockey arenas accompanied by luke warm, watered down coffee.
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