‘WE HAVE NO EASY OPTIONS’
Hinshaw feels Albertans’ frustration over cancelled events but warns possible outbreaks ‘can be explosive, far-reaching and deadly’
Cancelling Alberta’s biggest summer events was a necessary sacrifice in the fight against COVID-19, the province’s top doctor said Friday.
After the Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Folk Music Festival each announced their cancellations Thursday, Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said all events through the end of August would need to be axed.
Despite relatively low numbers of hospitalizations and deaths in Alberta, Hinshaw said the reality is that the virus will remain a concern throughout the summer, and that in some Alberta mass gatherings, one infected person has unknowingly infected as many as 40 other attendees.
“The virus that causes COVID -19 will be with us for many months to come, and the relatively low case numbers we’re seeing in many parts of the province are the result of our collective efforts and sacrifices,” Hinshaw said. “The kinds of social gatherings we are used to, even in the summer, can result in significant spread of the virus, from just one person who might not even know they are infected.
“The results can be explosive, far-reaching, and deadly.”
With the continued restrictions on gatherings, Hinshaw acknowledged she was asking a lot of everyone.
“I hear every day about the things Albertans are giving up to fight COVID-19, and it does not seem fair to ask for more,” she said.
“Unfortunately, this virus does not respect our feelings. We have no easy options. We only have each other and our commitment to protect one another.”
In a livestream Thursday evening, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney provided some details on how the province might phase out restrictions meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. The first phase of reopening would see the rescheduling of non-elective surgeries, as well as a reopening of campsites and provincial parks.
After that, restaurants could possibly reopen for seated service, provided that they implement protocol to respect social distancing.
But even with the gradual relaxing of restrictions, Kenney said it’s not possible for large summer events like the Calgary Stampede to proceed. The Stampede announced Thursday it would not hold an event this July, its first cancellation since it became an annual staple in 1923.
“I believe we can and will begin reopening measures in a phased way hopefully starting next month in May and gradually ramping up, keeping an eye on the numbers,” Kenney said.
“Having said that, I do not see any realistic scenario where we would be able to open up events where hundreds of thousands of people are closely congregating together.”
FOUR NEW DEATHS
Hinshaw announced four new COVID -19 deaths Friday, bringing Alberta’s total to 72.
Of the deaths, three were in residents of continuing care facilities — two men in their 80s at Calgary’s Extendicare Hillcrest and Carewest Sarcee homes, as well as a woman in her 70s from Edmonton’s Shepherd’s Care Kensington Village.
To date, there have been 399 confirmed COVID -19 cases in continuing care facilities, including 47 deaths, 21 of which have come at southeast Calgary’s Mckenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre, where 61 residents and 27 staff have tested positive for COVID -19.
More than a quarter of the province’s cases — and two-thirds of its deaths — can be linked to two areas: continuing care centres and meat-packing plants.
Two Alberta meat-packing plants have had serious COVID -19 outbreaks, with 558 cases in employees at Cargill’s High River facility and 156 cases in employees at the JBS plant in Brooks. One employee has died at each location, leading to Occupational Health & Safety investigations at each work site.
Two COVID-19 cases at the Mountain View Poultry chicken processing plant in Okotoks were announced Friday, and one case has previously been confirmed at the Lilydale chicken plant in Calgary’s southeast community of Ramsay.
Hinshaw also announced 297 new COVID-19 cases Friday, with about 4,600 tests processed since the previous day — a 6.4 per cent positive rate. Alberta has surpassed 4,000 cases, with 4,017 now confirmed.
Three of those cases are in the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. The cases were confirmed by Alberta Health Services in Eden Valley of Bearspaw Nation, located about 100 kilometres southeast of Calgary.
“Our community members that have been affected are in isolation and we are working to support them and their family,” said Bearspaw Nation Chief Darcy Dixon in a statement.
“Although this news may feel disheartening, the fact remains, that our Nations have done an amazing job at limiting the spread of COVID-19 through our communities.”
Earlier in the week, Hinshaw announced the first COVID-19 case in an Alberta First Nation, in northern Alberta’s Sucker Creek.
There are currently 76 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 18 of whom have required admission to intensive care units.
As well, 1,397 Albertans have now officially recovered from the virus.