Town of Banff Declares State of Local Emergency
The Town of Banff has declared a State of Local Emergency to supplement measures enacted by the Province under the Public Health Emergency, to help stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Banff.
The move allows Banff to reallocate and focus our resources easier, be nimble in responding to rapidly changing circumstance, and powers to coordinate local organizations and assets. This declaration also aims to help visitors better understand about the high risk of transmission in the national park communities. For residents and businesses, the mechanism will provide the Town with authority to implement measures that mitigate situations where there is a higher risk of transmission.
Information on measures implemented and in development are available at banff.ca/news.
Stop the Spike
Stronger public health measures are now required to address the growing number of COVID-19 cases. Mandatory - Province wide - restrictions as follows:
Effective Wednesday, November 24:
- No indoor social gatherings are permitted in any setting (private homes, public spaces or workplaces)
- Indoor close contacts must be limited to people in the same household
- Outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people, must not have an indoor component, attendees must be 2 metres apart at all times
- Working from home should be considered,
- where possible
- Grades 7-12 move to at-home learning, Nov. 30 – Jan. 8, except during winter break (check your schools winter break schedule). Classes resume in-person on Jan. 11
- Grades K-6 continue in-person learning to Dec. 18. Classes resume in-person Jan. 11
Effective Friday, November 27:
- Maximum of 6 people from the same immediate household at a table when dinning out
- All levels of sport are cancelled
- Most retail businesses, movie theatres, museums and galleries, libraries may remain open with capacity limited to 25% of the occupancy set under the Alberta Fire Code
- Indoor fitness, recreation, sports and physical activity centres remain open with capacity limited to 25% of the occupancy set under the Alberta Fire Code. These facilities can only be open for individual exercise and there can be no group fitness/training classes, team practice or games
- Personal, wellness, professional services and hotels remain open by appointment only
For the most up-to-date information visit banff.ca/COVID.
Banff Mask Bylaw Revised
Banff Town Council revised the mandatory mask bylaw to remove bandanas and scarves from options for mandatory face coverings. Based on new science provided by top health officials in Canada and Alberta, the bylaw now requires people to wear a close-fitting mask to be worn over the nose and under the chin:
- Inside all publicly accessible buildings and businesses, and
- outside on sidewalks on Banff Avenue and Bear Street in the downtown core, and the adjoining Caribou Street and Wolf Street.
Businesses can download and print a new poster at banff.ca/COVIDmasks or request a printed poster by emailing communications@banff.ca.