New COVID-19 restrictions come into effect for Parkland County

The restrictions will remain in effect for the next three weeks.

Residents here in Parkland County will have to get used to a new normal for the next three weeks.

The province announced a public state of health emergency yesterday afternoon with new health measures that will be in place for the next three weeks.

Effective immediately in our area: 

• Indoor social gatherings are prohibited, outdoor gatherings must be capped at 10
• Weddings and funerals must be capped at 10 with no receptions
• Festivals or events on hold
• Students in Grades 7 through 12 will switch to at-home learning starting next Monday, other students will follow after December 18th
• Places of worship will be at 1/3 of its capacity
• Restaurants/bars can remain open but only six people from the same family can dine in, singles can meet with two non-family members as long as they are the same two people from now until the restriction is lifted. Alcohol sales will end at 10 pm and the restaurant/bar must close by 11 pm. Take-out/curbside pick-up strongly recommended 
• Hair salons/barbershops and other one-on-one services allowed but by appointment only, no walk-ins
• Masks now mandatory in indoor work settings. Employees should work from home when possible

Following the announcement, the province provided an update on new COVID-19 numbers. 

In our area:

Parkland County:

111 active cases (+3)

City of Spruce Grove:

101 active cases (+8) 

Town of Stony Plain:

62 active cases (+1) 

No new deaths were reported and a total of 332 residents have recovered.