Alberta to Relax Virus Containment Measures Starting Friday

(Bloomberg) -- Alberta will start easing some of its measures to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus starting Friday, with vehicle access to parking lots at provincial parks first to open.

The Canadian province's health system will resume some scheduled, non-urgent surgeries as soon as May 4, and dental and other health-care workers may restart services that day as well, the government said in a statement Thursday.

Other provinces have also begun removing restrictions that were implemented to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Ontario outlined a gradual, phased approach to reopening earlier this week that may keep portions of the economy closed into August, while Quebec said this week it would allow retailers everywhere except Montreal to start reopening as early as next week.

Other key parts of Alberta's relaunch strategy announced Thursday include:

• Some boat launches may be opened May 1, and the province is working to have all of them open by May 14
• Campsites may be open by June 1
• Next stage of openings will require safeguards including enhanced testing capacity, comprehensive contact tracing, stronger international border controls and airport screening, guidance for use of masks in crowded spaces, protections for the vulnerable and support for those who test positive
• Next stage, starting as early as May 14, may include opening retail businesses, personal services, museums, daycares
• Next stage may allow restaurants with no bar service to reopen for public seating at 50% capacity

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