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(submitted photo/ city of Brooks)

City of Brooks reminds residents to follow COVID-19 protocols after new cases confirmed

Oct 20, 2020 | 4:05 PM

BROOKS AB,- The city of Brooks is reminding residents to keep practicing COVID-19 measures after six new cases over the weekend.

There are 16 active cases of COVID-19 in the city. Two new cases were confirmed
on Tuesday.

The city has been put under a watch status by the province. A watch status is issued if a community has at least 10 active cases and more than 50 active cases per 100,000, according to the province.

Brooks was once a hot spot for the virus. In May the city had over 1000 cases and in August the city successfully reduced their number of active cases to zero.

Brooks Mayor Barry Morishita said the city has made great strides in reducing their case count and has faith his community will do their job to mitigate spread.

” I guess we just have to double down a little bit. It would be unrealistic again just like it was before to expect numbers not to go up just as long as they don’t escalate at the same level. With Thanksgiving and school back we knew there would be some uptick in cases but you know it really comes down to the things that got us through again,” Morishita said.

One of the newly confirmed cases stems from an individual at Tilley School.

A letter to parents dated Oct. 19 said the school is working closely with Alberta Health Services to ensure necessary measures are in place to protect students and staff.

” From their investigation to date, close contacts have been identified in our school community and will be notified,” the letter to parents read.

Morishita said he is aware of new cases that are connected to a wellness centre and a faith bases institution.

” We are certainly watching what is going on. We are not trying to create a fear or a crisis at this point, but you know watching the numbers and making sure people are aware that we still have a job to do as tiring as that is, we still have to keep doing it,” Morishita said.