The province is going back to step one of restrictions.

Premier Jason Kenney says it's because of the rapidly rising number of COVID cases, especially the more contagious variants.

"We believe that based on the current trajectory if we don't slow down this curve we are set to hit that maximum capacity of our system in mid-May, a great tragedy given that it's right around mid-May that we'll begin to achieve effective coverage of vaccines," he says. "So most importantly these trends would challenge the health of thousands of Albertans and lead to many, many more preventable deaths, just at the end of this thing."

There are now limits on the number of people who can be in retail stores, back to 15 percent from 25 and live performances and libraries are closed until further notice.

As of Friday indoor dining will close at restaurants.

Some services, like hair salons and tattoo parlours, are allowed to remain open by appointment only and with one client at a time.
Alberta has now passed 2,000 deaths.

Kenney says active COVID-19 cases have jumped by 27 percent in the last week.

Kenney says, despite how some Albertans feel this is not made up.

"I'm glad to live in a province where there are a lot of people who jealously guard and protect their freedoms and who are sceptical about government policies that impair those freedoms and I embrace a variety of views on this but unfortunately we do see some people who don't just make those arguments about how to balance the public health imperative with rights and freedoms, in some cases we see people counselling reckless actions that could accelerate viral spread, that could overwhelm the health care system, force the cancellation of surgeries and create significant numbers of preventable deaths," the premier says.

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