By Troy Gillard

‘Biz Connect’ webpage features health and safety guidelines for Alberta’s relaunch

May 11, 2020 | 4:31 PM

As the province prepares to begin its reopening on Thursday, Alberta has launched a new web portal to give business owners more clarity on health and safety guidelines.

The alberta.ca/bizconnect webpage will provide for general workplaces and sector-specific guidelines for those able to open in stage one of relaunch to ensure businesses can reopen safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alberta’s staged relaunch strategy puts safety first as we gradually reopen the province and get people back to work,” said Tanya Fir, minister of economic development, trade and tourism. “Together Albertans’ efforts to adhere to public health guidelines have helped reduce the spread of the virus to allow for a gradual reopening of businesses, services and recreational opportunities.”

Planning documents to prepare businesses for stage one relaunch are posted for day camps, daycare and out-of-school care, hair salons and barbershops, museums and art galleries, outdoor recreation, places of worship, restaurants and retail.

Fir said information will continually be updated as the relaunch progresses.

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The website also includes guidance documents for sectors currently allowed to operate under public health orders. Sectors include disability service providers, farmers markets, golf course operators, health non-essential services, health-care PPE guidelines, homeless shelters, industrial work camps and private/municipal campgrounds.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw said that even though small outbreaks are being confirmed and must be dealt with, moving to Stage 1 of the relaunch is still being considered for May 14.

“Much of the province has been successful at flattening the curve,” she said. “Hospitalizations and ICU admissions are down, recovered case numbers are up and I am encouraged to see fewer daily new cases than even one week ago.”

Hinshaw said much has changed in our society since the first restrictions were put in place two months ago and it will remain different for some time.

Our societal norms around hygiene and physical distancing are different today, she said.

“These will remain habits and in fact will become even more important as we leave our homes more often,” the chief medical officer of health said.

She added that even though cases are still being found, the testing and contact tracing abilities make it easier to discover and quickly get ahead of any potential spreads.

“We will advance to relaunch cautiously but we must proceed for our collective health and well being.”

(With file from Chris Brown, CHAT News Today)