City of Calgary still awaits answers from province as possible reopening looms

The City of Calgary still has unanswered questions about a possible reopening of some businesses, including whether or not that will actually happen in two days time.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says they still don't have answers on questions like whether friends can meet for a meal in a restaurant or whether health orders restrict groups to physical distancing cohorts only.

Nenshi said Tuesday in a pandemic updatehe believes malls will be allowed to open, but it remains unclear what rules will be applied.

One of the bigger questions, however, is whether the province actually intends to lift some restrictions as early as Thursday.

"We're still searching for answers to some of those specific questions," said Nenshi.

Different impacts across Alberta

Nenshi said Calgary remains a hotspot for infections in the province, but points to a decline in new cases and the ongoing stabilization of hospitalizations in the zone.

"The level of restrictions that are appropriate for Calgary should be the level of restrictions for the whole province," he said.

Premier Jason Kenney has said it's likely not all areas of the province will reopen on the same timelines.

Nenshi said it's unclear when attractions like the zoo or Heritage Park could reopen, and those conversations are ongoing. The city is reviewing whether it can provide summer camps safely and within provincial guidelines.

Enforcement

Calgary Emergency Management Agency chief Tom Sampson said there were 188 patrols over the weekend related to COVID-19 restrictions. He said officers issued 66 warnings and one ticket.

He also said four businesses were issued warnings for not enforcing rules for physical distancing.

One area of concern cited by the chief were skate parks, which reopened last week.

"We're having challenges with respect to the number of visitors that are there," he said.

"If you go to a skate park and it's quite busy, we're asking you to go to another site, maybe come back later or wait by the side for your turn."

Sampson said it's up to Calgarians to determine how quickly, and how well, the easing of restrictions takes place.

Recycling plant outbreak

The chief also addressed news of an outbreak at Cascades Recovery, a private company that handles recyclables from the city's blue bins.

He said there is now a total of 13 cases at the plant that employs 100 people. Service has not yet been impacted, but that could change.

Sampson said the company has reacted to the outbreak and is working with Alberta Health Services.

"We've assessed this and found no risk to our staff that are making drops at the facility," he said.