COVID-19 UPDATE – September 16, 2021
The Government of Alberta announced a slate of new public health measures last night to help fight the spread of COVID-19 in the province.
The following measures are most relevant to the horticulture industry.
Mandatory measure – Effective Sept. 16
- Mandatory work-from-home measures are in place unless the employer has determined a physical presence is required for operational effectiveness. (All but some office staff would require physical presence in our industry)
If employees are working on location, they must mask in all indoor settings, except while alone in workstations.
Mandatory restriction – Effective Sept. 4 and 16
- Masking and physical distancing are mandatory in all indoor public spaces and workplaces. This measure extends to places of worship as of September 16.
Employees must mask in all indoor work settings, except while alone in work stations.
The Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) begins September 20th. It will require businesses or private events open to the public to either implement REP or reduce capacity to 1/3 of the fire code.
Businesses that implement the Restrictions Exemption Program can operate as usual if they only serve people (ages 12 and over) who have:
- proof of vaccination
- single dose accepted between September 20 and October 25 if received 2 weeks before time of service
- double doses required after October 25
- documentation of a medical exemption
proof of a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of service (tests from AHS or Alberta Precision Laboratories not allowed)
Businesses do not need to apply for the program. Audits and enforcement will occur to ensure rules are followed.
The Restriction Exemption Program would not apply to:
- businesses or entities that need to be accessed for daily living
- employees of businesses participating in the program
- children under 12
For the Green Industry Show & Conference, November 18-19, 2021 at Westerner Park in Red Deer, we are still awaiting confirmation of how what path the venues will choose and then we can make the appropriate decisions about the event accordingly.
Stay safe!