Some measures lifted for continuing care facilities

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced that the province will be safely easing restrictions on continuing care facilities.

“As more Albertans become vaccinate, including at continuing care facilities where the vast majority of residents are fully vaccinated with two doses. We are able to safely ease some restrictions to increase the quality of life, health, and wellbeing of residents,” said Hinshaw.

Residents of continuing care facilities who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to quarantine in certain situations.

“The most significant change we are making is a shift to a vaccination based approach for assessing any additional precautions for new residents and residents returning from outings off-site. Effective May 31st, residents will no longer be required to be in quarantine upon admission to a facility or when they return from same day or overnight outings. All residents will undergo a health assessment screening upon return to the facility the precautions for residents who pass the screening will be based on the vaccination status of the individual,” explained Hinshaw.

She noted that partially vaccinated residents and residents with no vaccine will have to undergo twice daily symptom checks for 14 days. Regardless of the vaccination status of residents, those who don’t pass the health screening, those who return from international travel, those have been in close contact of confirmed cases of COVID-19, or if they have symptoms will be required to quarantine for 14 days.