By Troy Gillard

K-12 students will return to classrooms, but…

Alberta’s enhanced COVID-19 restrictions extended at least two weeks

Jan 7, 2021 | 4:54 PM

Alberta’s enhanced COVID-19 restrictions implemented last month will remain in place for another two weeks through January 21.

“The health measures that were put in place in December have helped to reduce the number of active cases, but it’s not enough. Case numbers, hospitalizations and testing positivity rates remain high,” Premier Jason Kenney said Thursday.

“We will be carefully evaluating the data over the coming weeks to determine what options we have to give Albertans back more flexibility in their lives, and give businesses a chance to reopen. But the worst thing we could do would be to increase the chances of another surge, which would threaten our health-care system again and require more restrictions. We must be careful and deliberate, and avoid the roller-coaster of uncertainty that a new surge would create.”

All Albertans, businesses, organizations and service providers must continue to follow existing health measures until at least Jan. 21, Kenney said.

Businesses, organizations and service providers will be given at least one week’s notice prior to changes to the current health measures that may affect them. The province says government will continue to consult with affected industries.

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“These mandatory measures are in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 and we are not yet in a position to remove or reduce them,” cautioned Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health.

“Keeping these measures in place means we are again asking Albertans to make sacrifices – but they are necessary to protect our province. We all have the power to make individual choices to follow the health guidelines and help protect our loved ones, colleagues and neighbours. We are asking you to keep making those good choices.”

Kenney also confirmed Thursday that all K-12 students in the province will return to in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 11 as planned.

He says the decision is based on the latest evidence which shows that before the winter break, new case rates in schools plateaued and then dropped in December, once restrictions on social gatherings and group activities were in place.

“I want to recognize the effort of school staff, teachers and parents to follow health measures and help us keep classrooms safe for Alberta students,” Kenney said. “I’m confident this effort will continue and we’ll see a successful return to in-person learning to the benefit of all students.”

“Schools play a critical role in supporting student learning as well as their emotional health and overall well-being,” said Education Minister Adriana LaGrange. “A return to school will provide our students with the familiar daily routine of learning in class and will restore some sense of normalcy for both students and families amidst these unusual times.”