Alberta completes move into Step 2 of reopening; Medicine Hat down to 11 active COVID-19 cases

Adult performers have the same restrictions, but larger indoor film productions and other performances will be allowed provided there is no audience and a submitted plan is approved.

Banquet halls, community halls and conference centres can now open for all activities permitted under the first two steps. Shandro said that includes hosting permitted performance activities, wedding ceremonies with up to 10 people and funeral services with up to 20 people.

Trade shows and wedding and funeral receptions are still not allowed.

Retail capacity limits have been raised from 15 per cent of fire code capacity to 25 per cent.

“I want to reassure all Albertans that this is a careful step, it’s a cautious step, and we must and we will always be responsible,” Shandro said. Though we are easing the restrictions in these sectors, strong measures remain in place to keep the risk of transmission in our community low.”

Shandro said discussions on moving to Step 3 will happen on March 22 at the earliest to give time for assessment of the impact of these changes, if any.

The full details of the changes are available at alberta.ca.

From alberta.ca

There are 11 active cases of COVID-19 in Medicine Hat on Monday.

The city now has had 559 total cases – the 11 active, 531 recovered and there have been 17 deaths.

There are no new cases in the city today and two new recoveries.

Across the province, there are 4,633 active cases, down six from the latest update, and 129,566 recovered cases, up 592.

Alberta’s total number of COVID-19 cases from the start of the pandemic is 136,119.

There have been 659 variant cases identified in the province, six new today.

There are 278 total new cases in the province today.

There are now 254 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 36 of which are in ICU, and 1,920 deaths.

The province completed 5,585 tests in the past 24 hours.

The provincial positivity rate is 5.4 per cent.

Even with the full move into Step 2, “we are not yet in the clear,” said chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

“Each time we ease restrictions we increase opportunities for COVID-19 to spread if we do not continue to follow the important preventative measures required for each activity,” she said.

Both Shandro and Hinshaw praised Albertans for their efforts so far to slow the spread, allowing for the move into Step 2.

Hinshaw reminded Albertans that protection from any virus, including COVID-19 doesn’t happen overnight following inoculation.

She said it takes about two to three weeks for the shot to be effective, meaning someone exposed up to two weeks after receiving the vaccine could still get sick.

“This is not a failure of the vaccine or the vaccine causing COVID-19 infection. It is just a matter of unfortunate timing,” she said.

Hinshaw said the reproductive value province-wide is 0.95, a promising downward trend.

Alberta has delivered 297,692 doses of vaccine.

Hinshaw’s next update will be Wednesday afternoon.

An outbreak is listed on the provincial website at the Valleyview long-term care facility in Medicine Hat. The outbreak was opened on Feb. 12. It’s the only local outbreak currently listed.

There are 6,744 cases in the South Zone. There are 367 active cases and 6,282 recovered. The death total in the zone is at 95.

An AHS spokesperson told CHAT News on Monday that AHS South Zone currently has 34 COVID-19 positive individuals in hospital. There are 24 at Chinook Regional Hospital, with eight of those in the ICU. Medicine Hat Regional Hospital has five inpatients, with none in the ICU. The Cardston Health Centre also has five inpatients.

There are no local schools on either “Alert” or “Outbreak” status on the provincial reporting site.

The website Support Our Students is tracking instances of cases in schools across the province.

Cypress County has totaled 145 cases – all rest recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 118 total cases. There is one active case, 115 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The MD of Taber has 341 total cases — four active cases, 331 recovered and there have been six deaths.

Special Areas No. 2 has 40 total cases – 39 recovered and there has been one death.

Brooks has 1,362 total cases — one active case and 1,347 are recovered. Brooks has recorded 14 deaths.

The County of Newell has a total of 160 cases — one active case, 157 recovered and there have been two deaths.

The County of Warner has 163 total cases. There is one active case, 159 are recovered cases and there have been three deaths in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 2,309 cases. There are 278 active cases, 2,008 recovered and there have been 23 deaths. Lethbridge County has 550 cases, 16 active cases, 527 recovered and there have been seven deaths.

The figures on alberta.ca are “up-to-date as of end of day March 7, 2021.”

Read the full March 8 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan has a total of 29,806 cases, 1,463 considered active. There are 27,944 recovered cases and there have been 399 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

Saskatchewan has delivered 92,776 doses of vaccine.

by Chris Brown

Alberta completes move into Step 2 of reopening; Medicine Hat down to 11 active COVID-19 cases

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