No gathering of more than 50 people is allowed in one indoor or outdoor location.
Gathering restrictions also apply to all major summer events and festivals in Alberta.
Examples of indoor and outdoor gatherings include
- weddings
- funerals
- religious services
- informal events
- concerts
- arts and cultural festivals
- agricultural fairs and rodeos
- major sporting championships
- conferences
- educational seminars and workshops
- group volunteering initiatives
All individuals found to be in violation of gathering restrictions are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
Reducing risk in small gatherings
People gathered in groups of fewer than 15 people must maintain a distance of 2 metres from one another. Gatherings must occur in a space that allows for mandated physical distancing (at least 2 metres between attendees).
Any gatherings with fewer than 15 people must not include activities that could promote disease transmission. This includes singing, even at religious gatherings. Singing in groups is a high risk activity as it promotes the transmission of the virus through respiratory droplets. Precautions should be taken, including:
- keeping singers completely separate from the audience and each other by live streaming individuals singing separately
- limiting the number of people singing in the same place to the fewest possible
- having people sing facing away from others or otherwise creating separation using a barrier such as Plexiglas
There is no evidence to determine exactly what a safe distance would be between singers and others, but greater distances can reduce risk.
Other activities considered high risk include – but are not limited to – cheering, hand shaking, preparing food, sharing food or beverages, and buffet-style meals.
Recommendations for mitigating risk in indoor and outdoor gatherings:
- Cancel, postpone, reschedule or explore virtual attendance options for attendees from demographic groups at greater risk of severe disease, such as people 60 years of age or older and individuals with chronic medical conditions
- Contact Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health before commencing any volunteer initiatives that involve preparing food or collecting donations. These types of activities are not recommended during this pandemic as they increase the likelihood of spread of COVID-19 in the community
- Exclude people who have any of the following symptoms from attendance: cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat (even if symptoms appear to be mild or resemble a cold)
- Reduce the number of participants or change the venue to allow for physical distancing
- Stagger the time of arrivals and departures from gatherings
- Increase access to handwashing stations or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Increase the frequency of cleaning of surfaces that are touched often
- Promote personal protective practices (coughing and sneezing etiquette, hand hygiene)
SOURCE: Alberta Government, click HERE for more information