ALBERTA— Following COVID-19 public emergency protocols will play a key role in the reopening of Alberta's economy.
It has been almost two months since the COVID-19 virus was first found in Alberta, said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, and it remains imperative that Albertans continue to follow public health measures to limit the spread of the virus.
“It’s our behaviour that counts. It’s under our control— that’s our responsibility collectively,” Hinshaw said. “It’s up to all of us to work together to stop the spread of the virus to protect ourselves, our families and our neighbours because this virus kills people and it will kill many more people if we don’t stop it from spreading.”
Hinshaw reported 187 new cases of COVID-19 and two related deaths on Tuesday (April 21) bringing the provincial total of confirmed cases to 3,095.
A total of 61 Albertans have died from COVID-19 and 1,273 have fully recovered.
There have been 30 cases of the virus reported in Rocky View County and 15 cases in the Cochrane-Springbank region.
Hinshaw said she has heard many calls for the Alberta economy to reopen and for Albertan’s to return to a more normal routine. She noted that the province has found success in reducing the spread of the virus because Albertan’s have been united in following public health emergency protocols and recommendations.
Hinshaw cautioned that there is a need to resist the temptation to think that because COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admittance have been lower than predicted by Alberta Health Services modelling means the “problem has gone away.”
The virus must be taken very seriously as the province begins to plan for reducing health measures in the coming months, Hinshaw said.
“We can think about this virus as a tidal wave that could have swept in and left a trail of destruction behind,” Hinshaw said. “This didn’t happen because we collectively formed a barrier by our actions to prevent the full force of this wave from striking us.”
Hinshaw said as plans are made to reopen segments of society it is important to keep in mind that the “potential force of that tidal wave is still there.”
It will be critical to follow core elements of the public health measure for many months to come to prevent the spread of the virus, she said, even as businesses are reopened.
These measures will include avoiding large gatherings, washing hands regularly, cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, staying home when sick, practising social distancing and wearing a mask in public spaces where a distance of two-metres from others is not possible.
Hinshaw cautioned that it will be critical to avoid contact between people who are not from the same household. She added low-risk activities can take place outside if individuals can be at least two metres apart but it is key to stay close to home.
The province is working on a guide on how to safely enjoy the outdoors together that will be released soon.
Hinshaw said her team is continuing to learn more about the virus each day and this data will help guide the public health measures in the future and aid in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the province.
“We cannot take our success for granted we need to continue being vigilant. We must keep collectively forming that barrier by our actions if we want to be successful in our reopening,” Hinshaw said. “We need to build on our efforts and guard against complacency. This will be a team effort for many months to come.”
