The RMWB’s state of local emergency is being lifted.

Wood Buffalo council met virtually on Tuesday where they approved a motion from Mayor Don Scott to end the SOLE which was put in place due to the high COVID-19 numbers across the region.

It came into effect back in late-April when the RMWB was averaging over 1,300 hundred cases per 100,000 individuals.

As of June 8, the rural areas were averaging over 800 cases per 100,000 people, while Fort McMurray’s rate was under 300 cases per 100,000 residents.

Vaccination rates are also continuing to rise which is playing a part in the drop in active cases.

Currently, nearly 60 per cent of eligible residents in Fort McMurray and over 40 per cent in the rural areas have gotten at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Meanwhile, council will potentially lift the local mask bylaw on June 22, the next time they’re scheduled to meet.

Despite it potentially being repealed, people will still need to wear a mask in certain circumstances.

The provincial mask mandate is still in effect and isn’t expected to be lifted until stage three of ‘open for summer’ plan gets underway.

Alberta is currently in stage one, while stage two is set to get underway on June 10.

The last stage will come into effect two weeks after 70 per cent of Albertans, born in 2009 or earlier, get at least their first shot of the vaccine.

Right now, the province is sitting at around 67 per cent.