More masks available from more locations, no mandatory order issued

He said the change in hospitalizations needs to be declining or stable and under five per cent for two consecutive weeks and less than half of the ICU beds dedicated to COVID-19 can be occupied for Alberta to move to the phase.

Kenney acknowledged an increase in active cases as the province began to reopen and that the greatest increase has been seen in those aged 20-39 years.

Today, the province has made another 20 million masks available free to Albertans in the second phase of the distribution. In addition to being available at McDonald’s, Tim Hortons and A and W drive-thrus, they are now available at the front counter as well.

Masks will also be available at an increased number of long-term care and supportive living, seniors facilities, community groups, social service organizations, libraries, courthouses and places of worship throughout the province. They will distribute masks to their residents, clients and members.

Municipalities without easy access to a partner restaurant location are again being supplied with masks to distribute to their residents, as are First Nations communities and Metis Settlements.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw said masks are a part of our personal responsibility to keep each other safe.

“I am strongly recommending that all of us wear masks any time we are out and can’t maintain a two-metre distance from others, especially in indoor spaces,” she said. “Wearing a mask is a common-sense precaution that should be part of everyone’s new normal.”

She said wearing masks is just one part of the public health approach and there is no single way to protect ourselves from COVID-19.

“The key to limiting the spread is adopting all of the various public health measures in our daily routines at work, at home and in our free time,” said the province’s chief medical officer of health.

Hinshaw said the spread of the virus is growing and that there were a total of 230 cases confirmed since the province last updated its numbers on July 10.

She added there are more cases of COVID from unknown sources than there was a week ago.

There are a total of 8,826 COVID-19 cases — 7,989 recovered and 676 active. There are 45 people hospitalized, 10 of which are in ICU. The death toll is 161.

Alberta has performed 540,102 tests over the course of the pandemic. More than 25,000 tests were performed in the past 72 hours.

The South Zone has a total of 1,424 cases —1,302 recovered and 110 active. There are three people in the zone in hospital and there have been 12 deaths.

In Medicine Hat, there is one new case. The city now has a total of 51 cases — 41 considered recovered, nine active and there has been one death.

Cypress County has 30 total cases — 25 recovered cases and five active ones.

The County of Forty Mile has three active cases and three recovered.

The MD of Taber has 14 total cases, five active and nine recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has one active case.

There have been 1,121 total cases in Brooks —1,109 are recovered and three active. Brooks has recorded nine deaths. The County of Newell is showing one active case and 20 recovered.

The County of Warner has 44 total cases, 41 active, two recovered and one death.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 56 cases. Of those, 13 are listed as active and 43 recovered. Lethbridge County has 12 cases, eight active cases and four recovered.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day July 12, 2020.”

by Chris Brown

More masks available from more locations, no mandatory order issued

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