Restaurants and bars reopen for indoor dining in Alberta

Bars and restaurants in Alberta are reopening for dine-in services, with some health restrictions, as the Albertan government relaxes pandemic-related guidelines, CTV News reports.

The relaxed rules come nearly two months after the Albertan government forced restaurants to cease offering dine-in services.

Under the new guidelines, up to six people from the same household can be seated at a table in a given dining establishment, and at least one member of the group must offer their contact information for tracing purposes. Those who live alone can dine with up to two people from other households.

Restaurants are also prohibited from serving alcohol after 10:00 pm and must close entirely by 11:00 pm.

The reopening of restaurants and bars is part of Step I of Alberta's provincial reopening plan. Step I will remain in place so long as under 600 people across the province are hospitalized. There are currently 434 patients hospitalized with coronavirus in Alberta, 81 of whom are under intensive care.

If the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients remains below 450 for the rest of the month, the Albertan government will consider plans to enter Step II of reopening, which would lift some restrictions on gyms, hotels, and retail.

Some restaurants across Alberta chose to defy the government's pandemic restrictions since they were forced to close their doors to patrons, especially in rural Alberta.

Such establishments were handed tickets and fined for violating health guidelines, but owners argued that opening their doors to patrons was a necessary step to prevent their businesses from closing entirely.

Tens of thousands of small businesses across Canada have permanently closed their doors as a result of coronavirus restrictions, while some estimates have suggested as many as 181,000 could end up closing entirely if such restrictions continue.