Leaked memo ‘disappoints’ Alberta’s top doc

EDM • Alber ta’s chief medical officer of health says she does not dictate public health decisions, nor should she, because she is not an elected official.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says she’s “profoundly disappointed” over a leak of confidential information from meetings she and her colleagues held to develop recommendations on how to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

A CBC story tied to anonymous sources and audio recordings references discussions in which Hinshaw and Premier Jason Kenney’s government appeared to have been at odds on some aspects of policy.

Hinshaw started her daily COVID-19 briefing by saying the leak is a violation of an oath and lets down all the people who have worked hard to protect the health of Albertans.

She says the leaked talks were taken out of context because they only reflect a portion of discussions that took place over several days.

She says her role is to provide advice on different public health options, but it is up to the government to make the decisions.

Health Minister Tyler Shandro says he has full confidence in Hinshaw and she has nothing to apologize for.

The province, once a national leader in COVID-19 management, now has some of the highest daily case counts in Canada. There have been more than 1,000 new cases a day for almost a week.

The NDP Opposition, along with some doctors and infectious disease specialists, has been calling for a short, sharp and sweeping shutdown to reverse the numbers and prevent intensive care beds from being overrun.

Kenney instead brought in new measures this week, which include reduced capacity for most businesses while keeping them open.

The tighter public health orders include a provincewide ban on indoor gatherings in people’s homes. There are tougher restrictions on bars, restaurants and pubs, retailers, casinos, movie houses, hair salons, schools, places of worship backed up by fines of $1,000 to $100,000.

The restrictions are to be reviewed in three weeks.

Alberta had 355 people in hospital on Wednesday, including 71 in intensive care, and health officials are working to move and reassign patients to free up more ICU beds for COVID-19 cases.