Therefore, the province will begin to develop a COVID-19 protocol similar to influenza and other infectious diseases.

“When we first heard about COVID-19, we knew very little about the virus, we had no treatment, and no vaccine… Today, we are in a very different place,” Xinxiao said.

Changes to certain rules and agreements will be implemented in two phases and implemented within a few weeks.

According to a government release, in the first phase, starting from Thursday, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result must be quarantined, but it is recommended that their close contacts be quarantined instead of mandatory quarantine.

Hinshaw said that quarantine may be required in certain “high-risk environments or outbreak management.”

Anyone who tests positive will be notified, but contact tracers will no longer notify close contacts of contact. This responsibility will fall on those who test positive.

Watch | Alberta will soon remove most of the COVID-19 isolation and testing requirements:

Contact tracers will continue to investigate cases in high-risk settings, such as emergency and continuing care facilities.

Epidemic management will also focus on high-risk environments, including “high-risk workplaces.” The press release stated that it will “address the serious consequences of the community outbreak as needed.”

In the first stage, asymptomatic testing of contacts will no longer be recommended, but people with symptoms can still be tested.

Hinshaw said: “This will help reduce waiting times and ensure timely results in the coming months.”

In emergency and continuing care facilities, or when taking public transportation, taxis or carpooling, the rules for wearing masks are still valid.

“In the next two weeks, we will closely monitor these changes and make adjustments as needed to allow more time to vaccinate Albertans before the remaining changes begin on August 16.

These changes that will take place in mid-August will be even more significant.

For example, on the same day, the provincial blocking orders for buses, taxis and carpooling will be cancelled.

Hinshaw said that once students return to school, they do not need to wear masks in general, but they can be used as a temporary outbreak intervention in response to respiratory disease outbreaks.

The second phase is scheduled for August

The most important change will take place in Phase 2 on August 16, when it will no longer be necessary to quarantine after a positive test.

However, in this case, isolation is “strongly recommended”, the press release said. People with any symptoms of respiratory tract infection should still stay at home until the symptoms disappear.

The mask requirement will be cancelled, but some may be needed in emergency or continuing care facilities.

Quarantine hotels and quarantine support will no longer be available.

People with symptoms can be tested when they need to make patient care decisions, but Xinxiao pointed out that people with mild symptoms do not need to be tested.

The test will be provided through the assessment center before August 31, and then through primary care institutions such as the doctor’s office. Any critically ill patient who needs urgent care or urgent care can be tested in emergency care institutions and hospitals.

The government stated that public health will focus on investigating the serious consequences that require hospitalization and any deaths from COVID-19.

Hinshaw said the province reported 194 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, most of which were people who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

There are 84 people hospitalized, 18 of whom are in the intensive care unit.

Approximately 7,100 tests were conducted on Tuesday. Alberta has a positive rate of 2.9%.

Among Albertans 12 years and older, 75.6% received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; according to the press release, 64.3% received two doses.