COVID-19: September 20 Updates

The Government of Alberta announced new temporary measures to take effect Monday, September 20, in hopes of reducing the impacts of COVID-19 on the health care system.

Government is implementing a Restrictions Exemption Program that involves businesses requiring proof of vaccination or negative test. This is an optional program.

Participation in the program still requires people to wear masks.

Sellers may choose to use this program to limit access to their homes. Under the program, people over age 12 may be served only if they have:

• Proof of vaccination
• Documentation of medical exemption
• Proof of a privately-paid PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of service

It is your responsibility to discuss the options with your clients. If you are working with buyers, discuss with them that some sellers may restrict access to their properties under the program.

Be prepared that your buyers and sellers may also use this opportunity to ask you, as their REALTOR^®, for proof of vaccination. If you are not comfortable providing this information, consider referring them to a peer in your brokerage who can assist them.

REALTORS^® and brokerages may also choose to employ the Restrictions Exemption Program within their own business if they wish only to work with vaccinated or recently tested clients.

AREA has drafted some recommendations on how to discuss the Restrictions Exemption Program with sellers and buyers which can be downloaded below.

The current AREA protocols, including the mask mandate, comply with the restrictions that came into effect today.

Remember:

• Medical mask exemptions must receive advance clearance from sellers, who can decide whether they will permit them
• When showing homes, any sellers’ instructions further limiting open houses and showings must be followed. Sellers cannot waive the mask mandate

Maintain open lines of communication with your clients and discuss protocols in detail. Only proceed with those open house or showing protocols that have been approved by your client.

If your client would like to proceed with open houses but you, as a REALTOR^®, are not comfortable hosting them, consider soliciting assistance from a peer in your brokerage who is comfortable with offering this service.

For details on current restrictions, please visit the Government of Alberta website.

Please direct any questions to communications@albertarealtor.ca.