COVID-19 info for Albertans

COVID-19 immunization can protect and promote the health of Albertans and protect you from getting severely sick from COVID-19 infection.

The COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to provide a good immune response against currently circulating strains.

• Learn more: COVID-19 vaccine information

All Albertans are encouraged to speak with their primary care provider or public health experts for guidance on immunizations and what options are best for individuals and families. 

• Learn more about immunization and routine immunization schedule.

Practicing good hygiene habits can protect you and those around you from spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses:

• stay home if you are feeling sick
• wash or sanitize your hands often
• cover your coughs and sneezes
• avoid touching your face
• clean and disinfect surfaces regularly (for example, counters, doorknobs)

Crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces can increase the risk of spreading respiratory viruses.

You can help prevent the spread by:

• opening windows when possible
• ensuring ventilation systems are maintained
• limiting time spent in crowded indoor places

Wearing a mask in public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. Wearing a mask can help reduce your risk of infection and help protect people from being exposed to your germs.​

• It is recommended that anyone who has had respiratory illness symptoms and is now well enough to resume normal activities, wear a mask for 5 days when indoors with other people, especially when in contact with anyone who may be at high risk of severe outcomes.
• Individuals who are at higher risk for severe outcomes from respiratory virus infections (for example, people who are immunocompromised) may want to wear a mask while indoors with others.

Learn more about the Guidance for masks for the general public

Isolation helps prevent the spread by reducing the number of people you could infect by staying home and avoiding others.

• If you have respiratory virus symptoms or test positive for any respiratory virus you should stay home until:
  • your symptoms have improved and 
  • you are free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
    • When you are well enough to resume normal activities, it is recommended that you wear a mask when you are around others in indoor settings for 5 days, especially when in contact with anyone at high risk of severe outcomes.
• Anyone who is feeling unwell, regardless of whether they have tested positive for a respiratory virus or not, are advised to avoid visiting acute care or continuing care settings except when necessary (for example, to receive emergency care).
• Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees experiencing respiratory virus symptoms should follow their workplace policy.
• Health care workers who do not work for AHS and are experiencing respiratory virus symptoms should:
  • stay home from work until symptoms have improved and are free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
    • When the healthcare worker is well enough to return to work it is recommended they wear a mask for 5 days as it may still be possible to spread the infection. This will help to protect patients and clients who may be a high risk of severe outcomes.
  • practice excellent hand hygiene
• Hospitalized patients or residents in congregate care facilities or living sites should follow isolation recommendations directed by AHS Infection Prevention and Control or the facility.

COVID-19 is transmitted through tiny respiratory droplets or aerosols produced by people who have the virus.

• The virus spreads most commonly by breathing in air that contains infected droplets from people coughing, sneezing, talking, laughing, and singing, or when the infected droplets come into direct contact with another person’s nose, mouth or eyes.
• The virus may also spread by touching objects or surfaces the virus has landed on and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• People who have COVID-19 can spread it to others before they start to feel sick.

COVID-19 does not appear to regularly transmit like measles through long-range transmission, but there are circumstances that raise the risk of aerosol transmission, such as crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces where people are engaging in activities like singing or high intensity exercise.

We think the virus generally only survives for a few hours on a surface or object, but it may be possible for it to survive several days under some conditions.

COVID-19 can cause a wide range of symptoms that can be mild to severe. You should isolate at home if you have any of the following symptoms:

• fever or chills
• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• cough
• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• nausea or diarrhea
• loss or altered sense of taste/smell

Headache, fatigue and joint or muscle pain are also common symptoms of COVID-19. Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other viruses. 

If you feel unwell with respiratory virus symptoms, you should stay home to prevent spreading illness, regardless of which virus is causing your symptoms.

• If you have mild symptoms, follow advice on how to care for yourself and others at home. Do not visit an emergency department for a PCR test.
• If you have severe symptoms, call 911 immediately if you experience difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, feelings of confusion, or loss of consciousness.
• If you are unsure when to seek medical attention, use the Alberta Health Services tool or call Health Link 811 for advice.

Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are high-risk may be eligible to receive outpatient treatment. This treatment helps to prevent high risk patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms from progressing to severe disease if taken shortly after symptom onset.

• Learn more about outpatient treatment options or call Health Link 811 for more information.

The Federal Government is no longer supplying the provinces and territories with free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.

Although supply is now limited, Albertans may still be able to access free of charge COVID-19 rapid testing kits for at-home use at some community pharmacies across the province. Expiry dates for the remaining test kits vary by product, with the latest expiry date being December 10, 2024.

COVID-19 rapid antigen tests for personal use may be purchased through some pharmacies or online retailers.

How to test

When using a respiratory virus rapid test, please follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

COVID-19 rapid tests work best when used for people who have symptoms. It is no longer recommended to use a rapid test on someone who does not have any respiratory virus symptoms.

Laboratory-based COVID-19 PCR testing can be ordered by a health care provider (e.g. physician, nurse practitioner) and is available for:

• people at risk of severe outcomes if required to support their clinical care
• those living in specific high-risk settings for outbreak management purposes

Your health care provider will determine the best testing option.

Wastewater monitoring is one of many tools in understanding the overall burden of infection in a community and provides a broad picture of infection in a community.

The Alberta Wastewater Surveillance Program is a collaboration between the University of Calgary, University of Alberta, Alberta Precision Laboratories, and Alberta Health.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been demonstrated to be present in the feces of a significant proportion of infected individuals, and individuals infected with COVID-19 may pass the virus in their feces, as such wastewater can provide an indication of infection trends in a community.

• The wastewater surveillance data for the province can be viewed on the Alberta COVID-19 data dashboard.

• General guidance for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections
• Guidance for masks for general public

Assessing your risk

• You are encouraged to assess and manage your personal risk. It is reasonable to continue using precautions that serve your needs.
• When assessing your personal risk, it is important to consider your setting, individual health and wellness factors, and comfort level.
• Consult your health care provider if you want help assessing your personal risk of severe outcomes or determining your personal risk level.

Factors that lower COVID-19 risk:

• you mostly socialize outdoors, instead of indoors
• you have a small social circle
• you can maintain distancing from other people

If you have personal risk factors for severe outcomes from COVID-19 you may consider additional precautions such as:

• avoiding or limiting time spent in crowded indoor places
• minimizing close contact with anyone showing cold-like symptoms
• wearing a mask in indoor places

All Chief Medical Officer of Health orders specific to continuing care were lifted on June 30, 2022.

• Alberta Health Services provides infection prevention and control guidance and requirements in its standard operating policies and procedures.
• The Government of Alberta remains committed to becoming better prepared for future pandemics as well as improved management of other communicable disease outbreaks such as seasonal influenza. 
• Work is underway to address the concerns raised by the Auditor General in the COVID-19 in Continuing Care Facilities report.
• There are also other significant efforts underway to improve the provision of care to seniors and others who require continuing care supports, drawing on recommendations in the Facility Based Continuing Care review, and the Advancing Palliative and End-of-Life Care in Alberta report.

• Travellers should check to see if travel measures are in effect for their destination.
• Visit Canada's Travel Advice and Advisory website for more information.
• All travellers can return or travel to Canada from an international location, regardless of vaccination status. No pre-entry or arrival COVID-19 tests are required.
• Visit Canada’s COVID-19 travel webpage for more information.

Online resources are available if you need advice on handling stressful situations: 

• Help in Tough Times (AHS)

If you need to talk, call the 24-hour help lines:

• Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642
• Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322