The Alberta government didn't add any further restrictions in their most recent COVID-19 update.

Premier Jason Kenney and chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, gave a briefing on Tuesday (Dec. 28) saying that while Omicron cases continue to gain steam, no further restrictions were put in place before the new year.

Here are the new COVID-19 case numbers in the province over the holidays:

  • Dec. 23: 2,000 new cases (17 per cent positivity rate), 324 in hospital (61 ICU, 263 non-ICU)
  • *Dec. 24: 2,500 new cases (21 per cent positivity rate), 325 in hospital (56 ICU, 269 non-ICU) 
  • Dec. 25: 1,600 new cases (22 per cent positivity rate), 317 in hospital (51 ICU, 266 non-ICU)
  • Dec. 26: 750 new cases (17 per cent positivity rate), 315 in hospital (49 ICU, 266 non-ICU)
  • Dec. 27: 1,400 new cases (22 per cent positivity rate), 323 in hospital (50 ICU, 273 non-ICU)

*New provincial high for a daily COVID-19 case count.

The premier reminded Albertans that upcoming New Year's Eve plans should be kept small with no more than nine others.

Other restrictions that came into effect on Dec. 24 included:

  • Restaurants participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) are limited to 10 people per table, and recreational activities like dancing and billiards are prohibited. These establishments must stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. and must close by 12:30 a.m.
  • Large venues that seat more than 1000 people are now limited to 50 percent capacity.
  • Venues that hold between 500 and 1000 people have a 500-person cap.
  • No food or drink consumption will be permitted in audience settings for those venues, and venues with a capacity of under 500 will not be impacted.

Currently, Alberta has a 10-day isolation requirement for those who test positive for COVID-19.

"We may be looking at modifying isolation requirements for COVID-19," Hinshaw said in the briefing.

Hinshaw added hospitalizations for the new Omicron variant may not increase for another month or so.