Here is a summary of today’s #COVID19AB update. I provided today’s update from home. On Friday, I developed a sore throat and was tested over the weekend. I have a negative test result but since I still have symptoms, I’m staying home until they resolve. (1/10)

Most of us have worked with sore throats or runny noses but during COVID-19, that is not a risk that I or anyone else should take. Do not risk exposing others if you are sick. I know staying home is inconvenient but this is how we protect our family, friends and coworkers. (2/10)

On Sept 25 we ID’d 60 new cases & completed 16,318 tests. On Sept 26 we ID’d 184 new cases & conducted 16,365 tests. On Sept 27 we ID’d 162 new cases & completed 18,581 tests. 63 people are in hospital,15 in ICU. There are 1549 active cases, 52 more than on Friday. (3/10)

20 schools that had alerts had no transmission; students/staff are back in class. There are active alerts/outbreaks in 113 schools w/ 210 active cases in total. There are 47 school outbreaks including 6 schools on the watch list. (4/10)

Sadly, I must report that there have been 4 additional deaths from COVID-19 since Friday. 1 of the deaths was a patient at Foothills Medical Centre. This outbreak now has 53 cases, including 26 patients. Sadly, 4 deaths have occurred. (5/10)

There is also an outbreak at Millwoods Shepherds Care Centre that is a concern. There are currently 24 cases and 2 of the deaths over the weekend occurred at this facility. AHS is working to manage outbreaks at Foothills Medical Centre and this care centre. (6/10)

With outbreaks in mind,I want to talk abt herd immunity. This happens when there are enough ppl with immunity in a pop. to prevent infections from spreading widely.Serology studies in Canada estimate that we are only at ~1% or less & immunity won’t be reached until 50-60%. (7/10)

Adopting herd immunity would have serious impacts:
1)older Albertans/those with underlying medical conditions would be at risk
2)death is not the only severe outcome; our healthcare system could be overloaded
3)we don’t know if being infected confers long-lasting immunity(8/10)

We would put our elders and those with chronic conditions at risk, increase the burden on our acute care system, and still may not get the collective protection that this approach was designed to achieve. (9/10)

Our path forward must rely on science & we need to find a balance between the harms of COVID and preventing harms of restrictions. This balance is delicate and dynamic. Collective action is the key to protecting one another from risks of the virus & of strict restrictions.(10/10)