Edmonton News
There are many measures in place currently to help protect Edmontonians from the Omicron variant, including:
- Edmonton Transit Service:
- Enhanced disinfecting and cleaning on buses, trains, DATS vehicles, transit centres and LRT stations.
- Wearing face coverings or masks are required when on buses and LRT, at indoor transit centres and LRT platforms. Where possible, physical distancing is also required.
- Deploying buses with operator shields in order to create a mutually-protective barrier.
- Piloting germ-killing push plates on the doors of LRT stations.
- Recreation centres and attractions:
- Participating in the province’s restrictions exemption program and requiring all guests to provide proof of vaccination, negative test, or medical exemption before entering.
- This includes 12 to 17 year olds participating in youth sports, which is a stronger measure than the Government of Alberta requires.
- Active screening upon facility entry, including reminding people to stay home when sick, use of hand sanitizer, washing hands, and masking between activities.
- Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, including using electrostatic spraying.
- All recreation centres are operating at a maximum of 50 per cent capacity.
- Prohibiting food and drink in large venues with seating for over 500.
- Testing and vaccination support:
- Hosting Alberta Health Services to do testing at Edmonton EXPO.
- Ready to offer additional City sites for vaccinations, as required.
- Providing access to the temporary shelters at the Commonwealth Stadium shelter and the Spectrum shelter for vaccination of houseless clients.
- Personal protective equipment distribution:
- Providing additional face masks and sanitizer to social agencies serving the houseless population.
- Providing masks at public washrooms where attendants are in place.
- Small Business and Non-Profit Grant Funding:
- Grants to small businesses and festival organizers for personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies to protect their staff and clients.
- Supplementary grants to social agencies serving the houseless population to expand their physical capacity to ensure adequate space to maintain services.
- Masks and Face Coverings:
- Masks or face coverings are required in all indoor public places. The City’s mask bylaw remains in effect and can be enforced by City enforcement officers. EPS and provincial officers can also enforce the public health orders put in place by the Government of Alberta.
- Limiting the spread of COVID-19 within the City workforce:
- Requiring all City of Edmonton employees to be fully vaccinated or participate in a rigorous rapid testing process.
- City employees who can work from home are doing so in compliance with the provincial public health order to decrease transmission.
- City employees who are on site at a workplace are required to complete pre-shift screening, wear face coverings, and remain distanced wherever possible.
- Other actions undertaken to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and promote safety and mental well being of Edmontonians:
- Approximately 20,000 signs and decals were produced and posted in public open spaces, facilities, shared streets and lane closures to explain requirements for safe behaviours.
- Working with community and health partners to expand effort