Mixed reaction from Albertans as government pauses step three of relaunch
Posted March 23, 2021 7:24 am.
Last Updated March 23, 2021 7:25 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Alberta won’t be easing any restrictions soon, and that’s seeing a lot of mixed reaction from people, businesses, and organizations across the province.
On Monday, Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced the province is pausing plans to enter phase three of its relaunch plan due to rising hospitalizations and case numbers.
WATCH: Province not moving ahead with stage 3
This phase of the reopening strategy could have seen restrictions lifted on indoor social gatherings and some businesses like movie theatres.
In a statement from Cineplex’s CEO and President, Ellis Jacob, the company is disappointed in the decision to not relax the restrictions and allow theatres in Alberta to open again.
Jacob argues movie theatres are one of the safest forms of public gatherings, and there have been zero known cases of COVID-19 transmissions in any theatre across the world adding that thousands of Albertans will continue to be out of work without step three.
Others expressed their frustration on social media with some saying the move to pause this stage of the relaunch points to the UCP government having no COVID-19 plan.
The UCP are an abject failure. I will give credit for not moving to stage three, but know how their decision making has worked thus far, it just terrifies me about how bad the modelling must have been for them to actually do the right thing #AbLeg
— NW (@nwetsch) March 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/caruzycki/status/1374113420052623362
However, many people online are agreeing with the government’s decision with some person saying clearly we’re not ready to open up any further while others believe the government has made the right decision.
https://twitter.com/PhilipTurnbull/status/1374112541513715714
Expectations are so low with the Alberta government that everyone is shocked that they've made a responsible decision. #abpoli #ableg #COVID19AB https://t.co/RF5RXwsO3v
— Jonn Kmech ???????? (@JonnKmech) March 22, 2021