The number of COVID-19 cases is continuing to rise in Alberta.
On Tuesday alone 141 new cases were identified, including six in the Cochrane-Springbank region, 93 people were in the hospital and 16 people were in intensive care units. A total of 172 Albertans have died.
COVID-19 is a serious illness and it is concerning to see the number of active cases continue to rise in the province.
We all have a role to play to reduce the rapid increase in cases we are currently seeing.
We have sacrificed so much in the months since COVID-19 arrived in our province, but the virus will be with us for many months to come.
We all need to do our part and protect each other.
Wearing a mask is a way to show that we care about the well-being and health of those in our community and serves as a way to actively aid in preventing the spread of the disease.
If enough new cases emerge the rate of infection will spike, said Alberta’s Chief Medical officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, so we need to do everything we can to close the gap of infection.
“The future is up to us and we can change it," she said
We need to be concerned about the rise in case numbers and hospitalizations, so we can rise to the challenge and take steps and help flatten the curve of infection. Doing so will allow us to continue to safely and cautiously reopen the province.
If you care about the health and safety of your neighbours— Practice social distancing, stay home when sick, wear a mask when social distancing is not possible and practice good health hygiene.
Each one of us as individuals can step up and take responsibility to keep each other safe.
“All is not lost we have the opportunity together,” Hinshaw said. “We can turn this tide.”
Over the past four months, we have done a fantastic job to limit the spread, keeping each other safe and keeping our health system from being overwhelmed.
We need to stay the course so we do not lose ground to COVID-19.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has said some people are no longer following the public health measures and recommendations— This may be because they are exhausted of the turbulent disruption of the virus, they believe the threat of COVID-19 is exaggerated or they think the virus will not directly affect them, their friends or their families.
These notions are unequivocally untrue.
“These results are troubling,” Kenney said. “I plead with Albertan’s not to give up on the progress we have made. The last thing we want to do is reimpose damaging restrictions on our economy and our freedoms.”
We have shown we are a compassionate community committed to limiting the spread to save lives. Cochrane is strong and we will do our part to ensure we keep our community safe.
To quote Premier Kenney, “Let’s do our best to show care for others— That’s the Alberta way.”
