By Chris Brown

Targeted measures introduced

Kenney: Health-care system under real stress, 860 new COVID-19 cases

Nov 12, 2020 | 3:52 PM

Premier Jason Kenney says it’s almost certain that we have not yet seen the peak of the current increase of COVID-19 cases as the province reported 860 new cases on Thursday.

“Our rising community spread is putting our health-care system under real stress,” said Kenney, who also announced new targeted measures to control the spread.

He said he believes this two-week push of targeted measures is “our last chance to avoid more restrictive measures that I and most Albertans desperately want to avoid.”

Medicine Hat has 28 active cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. There have been eight new cases identified in Medicine Hat since the last detailed update on Tuesday.

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The city has 127 total cases – the 28 active ones, 97 recovered and there have two deaths.

Across the province, there are 8,305 active cases, up 215 since the Tuesday update, and 27,707 recovered cases, up 1,300.

There are now 225 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 51 of which are in ICU, and 393 deaths.

There have been a total of 36,405 cases in Alberta over the course of the pandemic.

Exact testing numbers remain unavailable due to outstanding technical issues with the province’s reporting site, but the premier said more than 15,000 tests were completed in the past 24 hours.

Kenney joined the update via telephone. He is in self-isolation after being in close contact with a COVID-19 case on Monday and awaiting test results.

There are more than 50 active outbreaks in continuing care facilities and active cases in continuing care facilities throughout the province have more than quadrupled since Oct. 1.

He said the number of cases in school is increasing as spread grows throughout the broader community.

Kenney said all the stats add up to one unavoidable fact:

“The growing number of hospitalizations and ICU admissions are challenging our ability to continue delivering non-urgent health services that Albertans depend on,” he said. “And this of course affects everyone. It’s not just an Edmonton problem or a Calgary problem.”

Targeted, temporary, time-limited measures to control the spread were focused on regions and communities under “Watch” status with rates of more than 50 active cases per 100,000 population. At the moment, that does not include Medicine Hat but does include most of the rest of southern Alberta.

Starting Nov. 13, all restaurants, bars, lounges and pubs in regions under enhanced status must cease liquor sales by 10 p.m. and close by 11 p.m., says the province in a release. The restriction will remain in place until Nov. 27.

Additional public health measures will also be implemented in all regions under an enhanced status. These measures will be in place until further notice:

• Maximum attendance of 50 at wedding or funeral ceremonies.
• It is recommended all faith-based activities limit attendance to one-third capacity per service.
• Residents should not hold social gatherings within their homes and should not plan social gatherings outside their community.
• It is recommended employers in office settings implement measures to reduce the number of employees in the workplace at one time.

Cypress County and the County of Forty Mile are on the “Watch” list with rates of 267.4 and 434.6.

Brooks (222.8), the County of Newell (284.2), Lethbridge (189.9) Lethbridge County (364.7) and the MD of Taber (296.9) are also on the list.

Kenney said there will also be a two-week ban on indoor group fitness classes, team sport activities and group performance activities in Edmonton and surrounding areas, Calgary and surrounding areas, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Lethbridge.

All existing guidance and legal orders remain in place in all areas, and Alberta Health, AHS and local municipalities will continue to closely monitor the spread across the province.

Kenney added the province is strongly recommending Albertans in any area under enhanced measures on the relaunch map not have social gatherings in their home.

“This must be taken seriously. We are putting our faith in the good judgment of Albertans which is why these measures are voluntary right now,” he said. “The alternative to voluntary action by Albertans is mandatory restrictions like in most other places backed by fines.”

He said 40 per cent of the spread of COVID-19 can be traced to transmission at home and at social gatherings.

Kenney added respecting these voluntary measures can turn the numbers around and therefore protect the health-care system without impairing businesses or jobs.

Health Minister Tyler Shandro said Alberta has posted 425 positions to hire for contact tracing teams, which will bring the team’s total 1,100.

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said the contact tracing team and Albertans notified more than 43,000 close contacts between Nov. 6-9.

She announced a new online tool to aid Albertans in close contact notifications, allowing for automated texting of close contacts.

“This tool will further support Albertans and will help speed up contact tracing,” Hinshaw said.

She added that when the rural zones are combined, Alberta has crossed the threshold of five per cent average daily hospital growth over two weeks; it is currently at seven per cent.

The trigger of more than 50 per cent of COVID ICU capacity in use was also hit this week. The province is at 73 per cent of those 70 beds, Hinshaw said.

“As the premier has said, this is deeply concerning.”

On Thursday there are 169 schools in the province where outbreaks have been declared. Alberta Health’s threshold for declaring an outbreak in school is two cases being in a school while infectious within 14 days.

Eastbrook Elementary School in Brooks is on the school “Watch” list.

Crestwood School in Medicine Hat, Brooks Junior High School and Bassano School are currently on the outbreak list.

The website Support Our Students is tracking instances of cases in schools across the province. Prairie Alternative Mennonite School in Medicine Hat and Brooks Composite High School are the most recent additions.

There are 2,922 cases in the South Zone. There are 518 active cases and 2,372 recovered. There are currently 13 COVID-19 cases in hospital in the South Zone, seven in the ICU. The death total in the zone is at 32.

Cypress County has totaled 71 cases – 30 active cases and the rest recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 78 total cases. There are 28 active cases and the rest are recovered.

The MD of Taber has 111 total cases — 56 active cases and the rest recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has 17 total cases – all recovered.

Brooks has 1,223 total cases — 43 active and 1,170 are recovered. Brooks has recorded 10 deaths.

The County of Newell has a total of 75 cases — 23 active cases, 50 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The County of Warner has 82 total cases. There are 10 active cases, 71 are recovered cases and there has been one death in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 708 cases. There are 188 active cases, 514 recovered and there have been six deaths. Lethbridge County has 234 cases, 92 active cases, 141 recovered and there has been one death.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day Nov. 11, 2020.”

Read the full Nov. 12 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan reported 111 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, 16 in the South Zones.

Saskatchewan has a total of 4,437 cases, 1,459 considered active. There are 2,949 recovered cases and there have been 29 COVID-19 deaths in the province.