`ENORMOUS PRESSURE'

Hinshaw hints at new rules

Stiffer COVID-19 restrictions are being drawn up to tamp down Alberta's ever-rising numbers, says the province's top doctor.

While Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Monday the rules put in place about two weeks ago are not bending the curve, she did not hint at what her team is recommending or when new rules might come down.

“I am more concerned than ever before about the spread of this virus,” she said. “We are still witnessing very high transmission of the virus, which is putting enormous pressure on our hospitals, intensive care units and health-care workers. It is also putting tremendous strain on our continuing care facilities and many other sectors.”

Hinshaw said while the current restrictions are not bending the curve, they have been helpful.

“I believe that all of those restrictions have put us in a better position than we would have been had we not introduced those restrictions,” she said.

“However, it's currently looking like the measures that were put in place two weeks ago are unlikely to be sufficient to bend the curve downwards, which is of course what we have to do if we are going to protect our acute care system.”

Alberta reported 1,735 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of active cases to more than 20,000 for the first time since the pandemic began.

There are 609 people in hospital and, of those, 108 are in the intensive care unit. The provincial death toll is now at 631 after 16 more deaths were recorded.

In the Edmonton Zone, which includes the city and surrounding municipalities, there are 9,190 active cases of COVID-19. The city of Edmonton has 7,435 active cases, or 727.8 per 100,000 people.

RAPID TESTING AND VACCINE ROLLOUT

A pilot project for rapid COVID-19 testing was also announced by Hinshaw during her Monday update. Assessment centres in St. Paul and Slave Lake and one assessment centre each in Edmonton and Calgary will roll out the pilot project.

“These tests are used on patients who are within the first seven days of showing symptoms, reducing the need for some patient samples to be transported to centralized public laboratories for processing,” Hinshaw said.

However, the tests are less accurate for those without symptoms. They are also less sensitive than the usual test, so anyone who has symptoms and tests negative with a rapid test will still need to isolate while waiting for results from molecular lab testing.

“What this test does offer is faster identification of positive cases,” Hinshaw said. “Fast tracking the testing process in this way will allow health-care teams to prioritize the cases that are still infectious and focus efforts where they can have the greatest impact on preventing further transmission.”

Meanwhile, the federal government announced up to 124,500 Canadians could receive doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the month, as long as it is approved by Health Canada.

A spokesman in the premier's office confirmed Alberta could see around 3,900 doses delivered.

When asked about the first batch of vaccines, Hinshaw said there is one receiving site in Calgary and one in Edmonton for the vaccines.

“What we know is that the vaccine that's delivered in these first shipments must be given to people at the same site that the delivery happens at. So those who will be eligible again have to come to those sites for vaccines,” Hinshaw said.

“We are looking at the healthcare workers in short supply and where there is the greatest pressure on the system to make those people eligible for the first doses.”

In Edmonton Public Schools, COVID-19 outbreaks were declared at Lorelei School, Belmead School, Ellerslie School, Delton School and Mcleod School.

In Edmonton Catholic Schools, outbreaks were declared at St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Timothy and St. Anne schools.