Alberta did OK controlling COVID-19: experts
EDMONTON — Aggressive testing measures and low hospitalization rates have infectious disease experts giving the nod to Alberta’s relaunch plan, but communicating the strategy to keep COVID-19 at bay has been confusing.
Stephanie Smith, director of infection prevention at the University of Alberta Hospital, said overall the government has been successful in controlling the virus while allowing people more freedom. She grades the response as A-.
“Obviously we can’t stay locked out like we have been until there’s a vaccine because it’s difficult to predict exactly when that will be,” said Smith. “I think overall they’ve done a good job and that’s evidenced by the fact that we haven’t had a lot of cases, we haven’t had a lot of deaths or hospitalizations.”
The government began to loosen restrictions on May 14, allowing retail stores, farmers’ markets and hairdressers to open at a limited capacity. Daycares, day camps, museums and art galleries were also allowed to open in a limited fashion while some non-urgent surgeries began again.
Following the reopening, numbers remained manageable, prompting the government to start phase two on June 12, a week earlier than planned. Most businesses are allowed to open to maximum capacity as long as physical distancing is still possible and some personal services are now allowed to operate. Gym and fitness centres were also allowed to open after originally being slotted into phase three.
Smith said the gradual opening has left some owners and operators scratching their heads over what they are actually allowed to do.
“Gyms are kind of a good example of where they’re allowed to open, but there’s so many restrictions that it’s almost difficult for them to probably actually make a living,” she said.
Lynora Saxinger, an associate professor with the University of Alberta’s Division of Infectious Diseases, said that while the government has done a good job at controlling the spread of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic, the communication around restrictions has been patchy.
“I think I’m also struggling with how best to communicate caution and optimism at the same time and I think that that’s a real challenge right now,” said Saxinger.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro agrees that the government had some lessons to be learned around messaging.
“I think we did well, given the huge amount of info, but we have to be more clear on the difference between advice. So what was voluntary as opposed to the enforceable orders,” he said in an interview last week.