November 18, 2020

As of October 26th, a 15-person limit has been placed on both indoor and outdoor social gatherings in Calgary. The limit does not apply to restaurants or organized social events like a wedding ceremony or funeral, but would be in place for things like wedding receptions.

As of November 13th, the following restrictions have been put in for a two week (Nov.13 - Nov.27) period:

• Indoor group fitness classes and team sports will be prohibited (these restrictions do not apply to junior, college, university and professional sports)
• Amateur singing, dancing and theatre groups also will paused
• Restaurants and pubs in "enhanced status" areas must stop liquor sales by 10 p.m. and close by 11 p.m.
• Maximum attendance of 50 at wedding or funeral ceremonies
• It is recommended all faith-based activities limit attendance to one-third capacity per service
• Residents should not hold social gatherings within their homes and should not plan social gatherings outside their community
• It is recommended employers in office settings implement measures to reduce the number of employees in the workplace at one time

We are committed to keeping this information up-to-date to help travellers make the best possible decisions. 

Alberta Provincial Parks Update

To help Canadians gain access to the health and wellness benefits that come from being outdoors and in nature, a number of Parks Canada places will be gradually restoring visitor access and services. As of June 1, 2020, visitors are welcomed back to Banff National Park with safety being a priority. Access will be focused on the resumption of autonomous day use of trails, grounds, and other outdoor settings and include the continuation of critical services and the gradual resumption of some key field-based ecological and cultural protection activities.

Park gates are open and payment is required for those who do not have a valid Discovery Pass. Visitors who had Discovery Pass which was valid in March, Parks Canada will automatically extend the expiry date by 4 months to cover the closure period. Parks Canada will not be offering reservable shuttles for the 2020 season including shuttles to Lake O’Hara, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. All shuttle reservations, including the Lake O’Hara application fee, will be refunded in full. 

To ensure the safety of visitors, residents and staff, Parks Canada is taking a phased approach to restoring access to the park. In doing so, physical distancing for the public remains a critical requirement in all areas of the park. While some of the restrictions and closures implemented in the park to date as a result of Covid-19 have been lifted, others will remain in effect at this time.

• Call ahead or check the business' website to confirm they're open, and to what capacity they are operating.
• Plan your outing knowing that businesses may be operating differently. Dining rooms may have less capacity as they implement physical distancing measures..

Please refer to the following sources for the most current information around COVID-19:

Please check with individual organizers to confirm the status of events in Calgary and refer to the City of Calgary for up to date information regarding closures, restrictions, and cancellations.

For hotel and airline inquires please contact the original booking source, or if you booked directly with the provider please visit the links below for updates and cancellation policies. 

Accommodations

Airlines

• Air Canada https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.html
• WestJet https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/coronavirus

Learn what to do if you recently returned to Alberta from outside Canada and refer to the Government of Alberta for updated travel advice.

If you are planning to visit Calgary, please see our guide on tips on How to Visit Calgary Safely During COVID-19

As of March 25, Albertans are legally required under public health order to isolate for:

• 14 days if they returned from travel outside Canada or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19
• 10 days if they have any COVID-19 any symptoms which are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition: cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat

Alberta has been selected for a federal government-approved pilot project that will relax quarantine requirements for international travellers entering Canada. On Thursday October 22, Premier Jason Kenney announced the province will be the first jurisdiction in the country to test a program that will use rapid COVID-19 testing at airports and border crossings to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus and reduce 14 day quarantine times.

All travellers returning from outside Canada are:

• legally required to isolate for 14 days, and
• monitor for symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat
• If you become sick during this time, you must isolate for at least 10 additional days from all other members of your household from the beginning of symptoms or until you are feeling well, whichever takes longer

Currently, Alberta has no inter-provincial domestic travel restrictions. However, as per Phase Two of Alberta's Relaunch Strategy, non essential travel is not advised. Please click here for more information.

Call Health Link 811 at the first signs of symptoms before going to a health care facility, unless severely ill.

Visit Alberta Health Services for more information on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).