Convention centre shelter cases jump to 42

A COVID-19 outbreak at the Edmonton Convention Centre homeless shelter has spiked to 42 cases, almost doubling since Friday.

Residents who tested positive have been transported to the city's isolation facility where they stay in their own room until the end of the quarantine period. The isolation space operated by the Boyle McCauley Health Centre has room for 65 residents who have tested positive or are symptomatic and awaiting results. It has been at capacity for the past week and is gradually being expanded to 105 beds.

As a result of the outbreak in the 24-7 shelter, overnight capacity has been cut in half from 300 to 150 for at least the next week. This reduction means less space across the shelter system for the nearly 2,000 people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton.

According to data from Homeward Trust, there are 934 shelter beds available overnight in Edmonton and occupancy has hovered around 90 per cent over the past week. Since temporary accommodations have opened, shelter usage peaked on Nov. 8 when 882 people stayed overnight.

Alberta NDP MLA Marie Renaud said the convention centre outbreak amplifies the need for the provincial government to invest in additional facilities, including hotel rooms, so people have more space. She is calling for daily statistics on outbreaks at emergency shelters and other congregate living facilities to be made public.

“I think all of this just goes to the fact that this government had eight or nine months to come up with a solid plan, they didn't transition for when they shut down the Telus Centre in Calgary or the Expo Centre in Edmonton and then people were left sort of floundering,” Renaud said Monday. “It's just been a failure on so many fronts.”

In an email to Postmedia, Alberta Community and Social Services spokesman Jerry Bellikka said the ministry is deeply concerned about the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the homeless community.

Throughout the pandemic, the government provided $73 million to homeless-serving agencies to support their COVID-19 response.

“We are doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of shelter users,” Bellikka said in an email. “We continue to work with our partners to address any capacity and support concerns to ensure people have access to the services they need.”

Alberta Health Services is working to offer on-site testing at the Edmonton Convention Centre for asymptomatic close contacts who are isolating in a separate wing of the facility.

There are also outbreaks linked to the Hope Mission Main and Commonwealth Stadium shelters, but capacity hasn't been reduced.