Alberta eases restrictions for indoor fitness, libraries; 291 cases

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Restrictions eased for indoor fitness facilities and libraries across the province on Monday, as Alberta reported another 291 cases of COVID-19.

Indoor fitness centres can reopen for individual and group low-intensity activities, while libraries can welcome visitors — up to 15 per cent of their capacity — as early as Monday, Premier Jason Kenney explained. Low-intensity fitness activities are being defined as those not focused specifically on cardio, such as light weightlifting, barre and tai chi.

“Please know that we’re watching the spread of this virus very closely. By moving to step two, we are protecting both lives and livelihoods and taking a safe step forward for Alberta,” said Kenney.

People looking to hit the gym will still have to book an appointment and anyone still interested in high-intensity activity will have to stick to the one-on-one model that was previously introduced.

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As well, masks remain mandatory during low-intensity fitness training.

Kohl Kehler, owner of Urban Athlete Fitness Studio in Calgary’s northwest, said the distinction between low- and high-intensity activity is subjective and will be challenging to navigate.

“The devil is sure in the details,” said Kehler. “But it’s great that people will be able to do low-intensity exercise; it’s better than no exercise.”

He was cleaning his studio Monday morning in preparation for the announcement and was set to reopen by the evening. However, he said it’ll take time for operators to find the line between low- and high-intensity for activities like weightlifting and yoga.

“I know some people can easily move a lot of weight and consider it low-intensity while others might find five-pound dumbbells to be too intense for them,” said Kehler. “People will have to take some responsibility for what they’re doing.”

Patrons of his studio had started calling before Kenney’s announcement was finished, eager to get moving.

Libraries were also picked to reopen because of the role they play in rural areas, especially where access to internet may be limited, Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he was pleased with the inclusion of libraries because they are vital to the community.

“Moving in these measured steps, I think, makes a lot of sense. We’ll just have to watch the numbers carefully,” said the mayor.

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Reopening indoor fitness and libraries was a smaller step towards economic relaunch than what was expected.

Shandro said the government chose not to ease restrictions for retail, hotels or other businesses listed in the original plan for step two because of the recent increase in positivity rate, new cases and R-value.

“While these changes are positive, we can’t lose sight of the fact that further easing of measures opens up the chance of spreading COVID,” Shandro said.

When Alberta transitioned into its first phase of economic relaunch on Feb. 8 — which included the modified opening of restaurants and bars, and eased restrictions for indoor fitness centres and children’s activities — the province reported 269 new cases of COVID-19 and had logged just over 100 variant cases. The Calgary zone was home to about 39 per cent of the province’s 6,196 active cases at the time.

On Feb. 8, 432 Albertans were in hospital, including 76 in intensive-care units, and the province had recorded 1,710 deaths.

On Monday, as Alberta moved into step two of reopening, the province reported 291 new cases and said it has detected 457 variant cases, including 449 cases of the variant first identified in the U.K. Thirty-three per cent of the 4,674 active cases are in the Calgary zone.

There are currently 257 Albertans in hospital, including 48 in ICU. With two additional deaths reported to Alberta Health on Monday, the province has now lost 1,888 people to COVID-19.

The R-value — reproduction number — reported on Feb. 8 was 0.87 province-wide; but on Monday, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said it was 1.01, meaning the transmission rate is increasing.

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The third phase of Alberta’s reopening strategy requires a three-week gap to monitor the effects on community transmission and ensure hospitalizations remain below 300. With this step, the government could ease restrictions for adult team sports, casinos, indoor social gatherings, certain seated events and places of worship.

Kenney said businesses that were left out of the step two announcement on Monday could see eased restrictions before the third phase begins.

Hinshaw said they’ll be closely monitoring leading indicators to determine the province’s next move forward.

“We need to be more careful than ever to not create opportunities for the virus and its variants to spread,” Hinshaw said. “By making choices to reduce in-person interactions, you continue to make a world of difference.”

Alberta has administered 235,508 shots of COVID-19 vaccine, including 88,145 people who are fully immunized with their first and second doses. The province began vaccinating seniors in the community last week.

Nenshi discussed an overall positive experience in helping his 80-year-old mother get her first COVID-19 dose last week.

“Everyone was just so happy there. The seniors were so happy. I felt something I hadn’t felt in a year, and that is hope,” Nenshi said Monday while encouraging all eligible seniors to sign up for their immunizations.

— With files from Madeline Smith

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