Alberta to begin relaunch Thursday, Brooks later this month

Some openings will be slightly delayed in Brooks, where one of the largest outbreaks in the country happened at the JBS meat plant.

Restaurants, bars, hair salons and barbershops in Brooks can’t open until May 25. Summer camps, summer schools and in-person post-secondary classes will not be allowed to take place in Brooks until June 1.

Those same restrictions apply to Calgary. Together Brooks and Calgary account for three-quarters of the total COVID-19 cases in the province.

Kenney said the curve has “successfully been flattened in most of Alberta. We must however remain careful. We must continue to take all the small daily precautions to keep the spread of the infection low and to protect the most vulnerable amongst us.”

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said she understands that some may be nervous about the relaunch, but that all recommendations have been made with protecting the health and wellbeing of Albertans at the forefront.

“We would not jeopardize all that you have risked and sacrificed by beginning to reopen prematurely. I feel confident that it is the right time to move into Stage 1,” she said, adding the move simply allows businesses to open but does not require them to do so.

Workplace guidance and supports for business owners and operators are available at the Alberta Biz Connect website.

Kenney stressed that the gradual reopening in Brooks and Calgary should not be taken as a sign either city is unsafe.

The number of active cases in Brooks has dropped to 94, while 967 cases are recovered. There are now seven deaths in Brooks, an increase of one. Total cases are 1,068.

Medicine Hat has fewer than five active cases. Of Medicine Hat’s total of 34 cases, four are active and 30 recovered.

In the South Zone there are 1,170 cases. Numbers for recovered and active cases weren’t immediately available.

Across Alberta, 5,076 cases have recovered and 1,211 remain active.

There are currently 70 people in hospital with COVID-19, 11 of those in ICU.

Hinshaw echoed Kenney in thanking Albertans for doing their part to slow the spread of the virus.

“Thank you for the sacrifices you have made, ones that only a few short weeks ago would have seemed unimaginable,” she said. “Albertans have responded to this unprecedented challenge with compassion and grace.”

She said Albertans should take a moment to think about what we have collectively achieved and feel proud for looking out for each other.

“By following public health guidance, practising physical distancing, washing our hands regularly and staying home when sick, every single one of us has helped to save lives.”

On May 11, the province began putting a more detailed chart online for each zone.

The County of Newell has 13 cases, two active and 11 recovered.

In Cypress County, they are reporting 10 cases of COVID-19, three active and seven recovered.

The County of Forty Mile and Municipal District of Taber each have two confirmed cases both listed as recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has two confirmed cases, one recovered and one death.

The City of Lethbridge has 19 active cases, five listed as active and 14 recovered. Lethbridge County has one recorded recovered case.

Read the full May 13 update from the province here.

by Chris Brown

Alberta to begin relaunch Thursday, Brooks later this month

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