Alberta’s pandemic-related retail rules end this Thursday

This Thursday, July 1, 2021, Alberta will remove all remaining health orders applicable to retail, making it the first province to achieve this significant milestone. While it is anticipated that many retail stores will retain several safety protocols for now, there is no legal requirement to maintain rules that have been in place throughout the pandemic.

In recent days, most municipalities have removed their regional mask bylaws, deferring to the provincial health guidance that no longer requires mask to be worn in retail stores and most other indoor settings. It is expected that Banff and The City of Wetaskiwin will end their mask bylaws at council meetings before Canada Day, making Calgary the only region to not align with the province. Calgary Council meets July 5, 2021 to vote on dissolving the bylaw.