COVID-19 Resources for Businesses

Stay up to date by frequently checking provincial, national and international websites.

• Government of Alberta: COVID-19 information for Albertans (includes Info for Employers and Employees section)
• Government of Canada: COVID-19 Resources for Canadian Businesses 
• Centre for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19 Resources
• World Health Organization: COVID-19 Updates

• To read the Alberta Chamber of Commerce’s latest update regarding COVID-19, please click here.

  For the latest information for Albertans on COVID-19, including updates on government actions, visit: alberta.ca/covid19

  • Essential Services List
  • Support for employers and employees
  • Updates from the Chief Medical Officer

  To receive announcements as they occur, Subscribe Here 

  The Government of Alberta has launched the Critical Infrastructure Strategic Impact Survey, questions are intended to assist provincial planners and decision makers in identifying strategic issues to be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic response. Responses are anonymous and consolidated results will be kept confidential. To access the survey, visit: https://extranet.gov.ab.ca/opinio6//s?s=48804

  Government of Canada updates can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html

• COVID-19 Resource Links

  Physical and Mental Health Resources

  • Alberta Health Services COVID-19 Self-Assessment and Resources
  • Alberta Health Information for Albertans
  • Babylon by TELUS Health App
  • Canadian Mental Health Association
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
  • Chambers Plan COVID-19 Updates and Resources

   

  Canadian Chamber of Commerce Resources

  • COVID-19 Preparedness Resources for Businesses

   

  Federal Supports for Business

  • Government of Canada COVID-19 Resources
  • Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Supports for Canadians and Businesses
  • COVID-19 Resources for Canadian Businesses
  • COVID-19: Employment and Social Development Canada
  • Business Development Bank of Canada: Support for Entrepreneurs
  • Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers – Frequently Asked Questions
  • Federal Government Canada Business App
  • COVID-19: How are governments responding to the call for stimulus?

   

  Alberta Supports for Business

  • Government of Alberta COVID-19 Resources
  • Alberta Purchasing Connection (APC)
  • Emergency Response Data Base
  • Alberta Business Family Institute Resources
  • Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) – Guide for Municipal Leaders on Canada’s and Alberta’s Response to COVID-19 (does not include new Federal supports announced on March 27)

Mandatory mass gathering restrictions

Events

No gatherings with more than 15 people are allowed, including:

• conferences
• workshops
• worship gatherings
• family events, such as weddings and funerals
• social gatherings outdoors

Cancel gatherings with fewer than 15 people if the event:

• includes any attendees travelling from outside of Canada
• has, as its focus, attendees who are members of critical infrastructure or critical service roles (e.g. health-care workers, first responders, electric/power workers, telecommunications)
• includes attendees from demographic groups at greater risk of severe disease, such as people 60 years of age or older and individuals with chronic medical conditions
• has attendees participating in activities that promote disease transmission (e.g. singing, cheering, close contact, sharing food or beverages, buffet-style meals)
• is in a space that does not allow for recommended social distancing (at least 2 metres between attendees)

If you violate this public health order and proceed to hold an event with more than 15 attendees, you may be subject to a fine.

Exemptions

The 15-person limit does not apply to:

• certain essential services and facilities – these facilities must still follow risk mitigation strategies
• public transit – if 2 metres of physical distancing is observed

Recreation and entertainment

Albertans are prohibited from attending all public recreation facilities and private entertainment facilities, including:

• gyms, swimming pools and arenas
• science centres, museums and art galleries
• libraries, community centres, children’s play centres and bowling alleys
• casinos, racing entertainment centres, and bingo halls

Restaurants, cafes and bars

• All dine-in services are prohibited. Take-out, delivery and drive-through services are still allowed.
• Albertans are prohibited from attending bars and nightclubs, where law prohibits minors.
• Restaurants in a food court may stay open for take-out only (no seating).
• Licensed facilities are permitted to deliver liquor (PDF, 112 KB)
• Not-for-profit community kitchens, soup kitchens and religious kitchens are exempt at this time, but risk mitigation strategies must be followed.

Other businesses

All passenger ropeways, like gondolas and chairlifts, are closed until further notice under the Safety Codes Act.

Personal services

Albertans are prohibited from accessing close contact personal services, including personal services facilities, cosmetic enhancement services, wellness studios and clinics, non-emergency and non-critical health services.

Personal services facilities and cosmetic enhancement services include:

• esthetics
• manicure
• pedicure
• body waxing
• make-up
• body, nose and ear piercing
• tattoos
• artificial tanning and spray tanning
• hairstyling
• barbering
• facial treatments
• eyebrow and eyelash treatments
• laser hair and tattoo removal
• cosmetic skin and body treatments

Wellness studios and clinics include:

• floatation tanks
• colonic irrigation
• massage
• reflexology

Non-emergency and non-critical health services provided by regulated health professionals or registered professionals include any non-emergency or non-urgent:

• dentistry
• physiotherapy
• massage
• foot care and podiatry
• acupuncture and acupressure
• chiropractic services
• naturopathy

Other workplaces

Workplaces that are not otherwise restricted or ordered to close can have more than 15 workers on a work site as long as they follow all public health guidelines, including physical distancing measures. Employers should:

• self-assess and find alternate ways to organize large group meetings
• cancel workplace gatherings of 15 or more people in a single space (e.g. training events)
• employ mitigation strategies to limit risk
• continue business continuity planning to prepare critical operations for any potential interruption

Risk mitigation strategies

All gatherings that are proceeding because they don’t meet the restriction criteria, including weddings and funerals with less than 15 people, should follow these general risk mitigation strategies:

• people who are sick with a fever or cough must not attend (even if symptoms appear to be mild or resemble a cold)
• recommend anyone at high risk of severe disease not attend the event
• reduce the number of participants or change the venue to allow for physical distancing
• stagger the time of arrivals and departures
• provide packaged refreshments instead of a buffet
• increase access to handwashing stations or alcohol-based sanitizer
• frequently clean surfaces that are touched often
• promote personal protective practices (hygiene etiquette, staying home if ill)
• offer virtual or live-streamed activities instead of in-person events
• change the event program to remove activities that increase the risk of disease transmission, such as those that require physical contact between participants

Enforcement

If you violate this public health order and proceed to hold an event with more than 15 attendees, you may be subject to a fine.

• You can submit a complaint to AHS public health inspectors if you are concerned an establishment is not following public health orders.

Submit a complaint 

Financial assistance

Emergency Financial Assistance

Government of Alberta financial assistance for unexpected emergencies (for all Albertans, not specific to businesses)
Website

Resources:

• Posters: Handwashing, Vehicle Cleaning, Work Station Cleaning,  Front Door Warning
• Guidelines: CDC: Keeping your workplace, school, and home safe
• Guidelines: Health Canada decision-making guidelines for mass gatherings during COVID-19

Prepare

Ensure your business is prepared to handle a potential case or business disruption, including accessing available government resources to mitigate potential financial impacts to your employees and your business.

• Review or create a Business Continuity Plan for your organization, ensuring it contains:
  • Process to follow if an employee becomes ill;
  • Policies around travel;
  • Policies around sick leave;
  • How to mitigate risk to essential business functions can continue; and
  • Internal and external communications plans.

Resources:

• Checklist: Maintaining business during an infectious disease outbreak
• Website: Canadian Chamber of Commerce Pandemic Preparedness for Business
• Website: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employees

Respond

Follow all public health guidelines if you, or a member of your team, is experiencing symptoms, in order to ensure the safety of your workforce and your workspace.

• Call Health Link at 8-1-1 for instructions if you, or a member of your team, is experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing and have travelled outside of Canada, or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19.

Website: Alberta Health Link

Assist

Consider how you can support your immediate community through the outbreak

• Offer and provide support to employees and coworkers who are at home.
• Consider whether your organization can provide goods or services to assist those in self-isolation (ie: grocery delivery, online or telephone counselling, internet services).
• Guidelines: Self-Isolation Information Sheet