Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her government will not bring back provincewide mask mandates. .“We recognize that AHS currently has the autonomy to make this decision,” said Smith in a Thursday statement. .“It is my expectation that no Albertan will be denied access to healthcare.”.AHS reinstated a masking directive in healthcare facilities to stop the spread of COVID-19 on Wednesday. .READ MORE: AHS brings back mask mandate in acute care centres.“The Use of Masks to Prevent Transmission of COVID-19 Directive, which comes into effect today, is a tool that Zone Executive Leadership or Chief Program Officers and Site Leadership will use to make site and zone-specific enhanced masking decisions,” said AHS. .“When implemented by the Site Leadership and Zone Executive Leadership (or the Chief Program Officer), the directive will require all AHS staff, workers at Precision Laboratories, Covenant Health, Lamont Health Care Centre, as well as all physicians, midwives, students, volunteers and contracted service providers to mask in an acute care facility.” .If Albertans want to wear masks, Smith said they should. She added the Alberta government appointed the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel, led by former Reform Party leader Preston Manning, to review legislation and policies and provide recommendations to improve its response to public health emergencies in the future. .“This report will be submitted to cabinet by Nov. 15, 2023 and will help inform future changes,” she said.
