Here is a summary of today’s #COVID19AB update. We have crossed a tipping point in managing spread & we’re losing the balance we’ve been seeking. COVID-19 hospitalization growth is not above our trigger point of 5% but we must address the situation we are in now. (1/11)

This weekend’s #s tell the story. We ID’d, on average, 480 cases/day over the weekend. Fri saw 364 cases w/16K+ tests conducted. We ID’d 572 new cases Sat & completed 17K tests. Yesterday had 504 cases & almost 12,700 tests. 118 people are in hospital, incl 16 in ICU. (2/11)

Sadly, I must report 7 more deaths. Many are struggling with the loss of loved ones, from COVID-19 or other causes. We must change the trend of COVID-19 spread to prevent more losses & growth in hospitals & ICU. (3/11)

Effective today, if a positive case attended an event while infectious, AHS will notify the organizer & provide written notification for organizers to email to attendees within 24 hrs. If an organizer can’t support email process, AHS will make these phone calls. (4/11)

There are active alerts of outbreaks in about 11% of all schools w/680 cases. 101 schools have an outbreak incl. 39 on the watch list with 5+ cases. In-school transmission has occurred in 79 schools. Of these, 45 have had only 1 new case result (5/11)

The avg. positivity rate for COVID-19 tests in YEG is now about 4%. In YYC, the # of cases are rising & 3.18% of COVID-19 tests are coming back positive. In the last 2 weeks #YEG & #YYC social gatherings made up 15% of outbreaks, but almost 1/3 of outbreak-related cases. (6/11)

Effective immediately, there is a mandatory 15-person limit on all social gatherings in #YEG & #YYC. This applies to events like birthday parties, wedding & funeral receptions. It doesn’t change structured events like dining in restaurants or wedding & funeral ceremonies. (7/11)

The 15-person limit is temporary. We'll reassess after 1 month & lift it if we see our R value decline below 1 & new case numbers consistently below 100 in each city. I hope we will see cases decline significantly enough to reassess this approach and lift within 1 month. (8/11)

2 voluntary public health measures remain for #YEG & will be put in place today in #YYC. First, wear non-medical masks in indoor work settings unless alone in spaces like offices or cubicles where you can safely distance from others or an appropriate barrier is in place. (9/11)

Second, we ask that anyone in #YEG or #YYC belong to no more than 3 cohorts: a core cohort w/household & small group w/whom you exclusively gather, a school cohort & 1 additional sport, social or other cohort. Young children who attend childcare may be part of 4 cohorts. (10/11)

Surrounding communities in YEG zone should continue following voluntary public health measures. No add’l measures are being implemented in communities surrounding YYC. We will continue working with AHS, YEG & YYC & local partners to analyze & monitor the spread across AB. (11/11)