Alberta lifting restrictions – and what that could mean for college students

The COVID-19 pandemic has been ongoing for over two years now, and the Alberta government is implementing new phases to slowly decrease restrictions. This is dependent on whether hospitalizations continue to trend in a downward manner. The new restrictions are as follows, from the government of Alberta’s website: 

Step 1 - starting February 9th: 

• Removal of the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP), and almost all of the restrictions associated with it. 
• Entertainment venues continue to have capacity limits, but attendees are now able to enjoy food and drinks in their seats. 
• Capacity limits for locations not covered under the REP program are removed.
• Masking requirements are removed for children 12 and under in any setting and children and youth in schools regardless of age from February 14.

Step 2 - starting March 1st: 

• Any additional or remaining restrictions or requirements regarding schools are removed. 
• Youth will not be screened for entertainment or sports-related purposes. 
• No capacity on large venues and entertainment venues. 
• No limit to indoor or outdoor social gatherings. 
• Work from home requirements lifted. 
• Masking no longer required indoors.

Step 3 - to be determined:

• COVID-specific continuing care measures removed.
• Mandatory isolation removed (becomes a recommendation only).

Measures may be updated and changed as time goes on or circumstances differ from what is expected. 

What does this mean for college students? 

It’s a mixed bag for college students and those considering post-secondary education. On one hand, you can go wherever you want without having to worry so much about restrictions. You can have events with your friends and family, and have fun. On the other hand, you may have been looking forward to getting an education from home, or working while you get an education. Not having in-person commitments can make this whole process easier. 

However, taking out these restrictions doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have to find an in-person job, or take in-person classes. While the mandates are to be removed, it is up to the institutions or employers to decide how they want to proceed - and they all have the freedom to do as they wish. That means they could continue the work-from-home model (as many companies are), or in-person classes. They could also introduce a hybrid model for those who may not be able to attend classes. 

Luckily, there are many ways that you can still get the education you need online while having the opportunity to be at home. ABM College offers programs and courses on health, business, and technology online so that you learn the skills you need from where you’re most comfortable. Learn more about how you can apply today or get additional industry information from our blog.