Alberta announces supports for businesses trying to enforce COVID-19 restrictions
CBC
The Alberta government has announced several new supports for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Small- and medium-sized businesses that choose to implement Alberta's restriction exemption program will be eligible for a one-time grant of $2,000, Premier Jason Kenney announced during a news conference Thursday afternoon.
As well, the government is providing assistance for training and is doubling fines, from $2,000 to $4,000, for individuals who mistreat public facing workers trying to reforce the program.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical officer of health, Health Minister Jason Copping and Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, Doug Schweitzer are also scheduled to speak at the news conference.
Alberta's fourth wave, driven mostly by the delta variant, started around late July, with active case counts and hospitalizations rapidly escalating through August and September.
Intensive care units have been overwhelmed, thousands of surgeries have been cancelled and military medical aid has been called in to ease the pressure.
Hospitalizations dipped slightly Wednesday, but the province still leads the country in daily COVID-19 cases and known active cases by a wide margin.