The numbers tell our pandemic story
It’s been a time, hasn’t it Edmonton?
Seven weeks have passed since that infamous doctors’ bonspiel, facilities started closing and nearly everyone was told to stay home.
There’s been a lot of things to count since then. Sure, we’ve kept a concerned eye on COVID -19 cases, deaths and outbreaks, but we’ve also counted the days until we might see some relief on the horizon.
With the start of a new month upon us, now seems as good a time as any to take stock of what we’ve been through.
As such, I present to you Edmonton’s pandemic story — and a little of my own — told not in words, but in numbers.
PATHOGEN
498: Confirmed cases of
COVID -19 in the Edmonton zone.
8.9: Percentage of Alberta cases that are in the Edmonton zone.
12: COVID -19-related deaths in the Edmonton zone.
13: Percentage of Alberta deaths that have occurred in the Edmonton zone.
One: Outbreak in an Edmonton continuing care centre (Shepherd’s Care Kensington Village).
29: Outbreaks in Calgary zone continuing care centres.
2,052: Confirmed cases of seasonal influenza in Edmonton zone as of April 25.
15: Influenza-related deaths in Edmonton zone this season.
PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH
46: News conferences given by chief medical officer of health
Dr. Deena Hinshaw since Feb. 26.
2.76 million: Overall views those news conferences have drawn on Youtube.
22 million: Page views for Alberta Health’s main COVID -19 webpage since it was launched on Jan. 24.
111: ICU beds in the Edmonton zone, with plans to create more should the need arise.
3,878: Pandemic-related complaints and service requests received by AHS in April in the Edmonton zone.
Five: Public health orders issued by AHS in the Edmonton zone to shut down businesses: three to gyms, one to a salon and one to a restaurant.
878: Warnings issued in April by city peace officers for violating public health orders, including 219 for dogs being off leash and 339 for failures to maintain physical distancing.
$1,200: Cost of ticket given to an Edmonton business that remained open despite order to close.
1,208: Checks of parks and playgrounds in April by city peace officers.
681: Unique visits to the Edmonton Expo Centre on April 30.
21: People staying in the Expo Centre’s isolation space on the morning of May 1.
PAYING BILLS
42: Days since the city stopped collecting parking fees.
Aug. 31: Final day Edmontonians have this year to pay their property taxes without accruing late penalties.
53: Percentage of city’s operating revenue that comes from property taxes.
Two per cent: Reduction in the property taxes from the non-residential sector this year.
Zero per cent: Change in property taxes from the residential sector.
$137.2 million: Projected financial pain to the city by mid-september, due to pandemic-related costs and lost revenue.
42: Per cent of this shortfall that will be covered by a hiring freeze and layoffs.
4,177: Total layoff notices issued, including staff at the Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton Economic Development Corporation.
$10 billion: Request for federal aid from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
$217 million: Edmonton’s estimated share, should Ottawa grant the aid.
PROFESSIONAL PAIN
24.6: Percentage of local businesses that say they don’t have the cash to make the next payroll, according to the latest Edmonton Chamber of Commerce survey.
42.4: Percentage of businesses reporting they have shut down their offices.
33.6: Percentage of businesses that say they can withstand lockdown measures for only another four weeks or less.
POSTPONED PLEASANTRIES
350,000: Estimated attendance at last year’s Heritage Festival. 21,794: Kilograms of food donated to the Edmonton Food Bank at last year’s festival.
147,358: Theatre tickets purchased at last year’s Edmonton Fringe festival.
800,000-plus: Annual attendance at K-days in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
1,090: Days since the Oilers last hosted playoff game.
$276,000: Expected cost savings for the city not holding Canada Day fireworks.
POTPOURRI
22: News conferences featuring interim city manager Adam Laughlin since March 12.
10: Days that Mayor Don Iveson spent in self isolation after experiencing mild symptoms on March 23.
21: Branches of the Edmonton Public Library that are closed, not including the new, but stillyet-to-open Stanley A. Milner Library.
38: Unfenced city dog parks that will again allow dogs to be off leash, starting Saturday.
Seven: Occasions a state of local emergency has been approved and re-approved by council.
Two: Council votes not to renew the state of emergency, both from Coun. Jon Dziadyk.
$488: Potential fine for any Edmontonian hosting a garage sale.
79,975: Potholes filled in Edmonton so far in 2020.
28: Song performances posted by local soprano Cara Lianne Mcleod on her Facebook page.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
3.5: Rolls of toilet paper remaining in my house before I managed to resupply.
One: Occasions I’ve filled up my car with gas in the last seven weeks.
59.9: Cents per litre I paid for gas at the time of my last fill-up.
47: Consecutive days I’ve worked from home.
33: Dinners cooked at home in the last seven weeks.
Nine: Dinners edible enough that they would be OK to serve to other people.
27: Days earlier than usual that I have my lawn raked.
21: “Classic” hockey, baseball and basketball games I’ve watched on TV because I’m starved for sports.
Two: Beards grown and shaved since starting to work from home.
Zero: Self haircuts attempted.
Seven: Failed attempts to finish a crossword puzzle.
13: Texts I’ve received from a friend urging me to buy a bicycle.