Here is a summary of today’s #COVID19AB update. On behalf of AHS I want to acknowledge Albertans & our contact tracing team for notifying 43K+ close contacts from Nov.6-9. Thank you to cases & contacts who worked w/contact tracers. We have to keep this effort up. (1/16)

Together w/limiting social bubbles, maintaining distance, masking & staying home if sick, the efficiency & completeness of contact tracing efforts is critical to stemming new cases in AB. Today, AHS is launching an online portal for automated texting of close contacts. (2/16)

Confirmed cases can use the site to enter info of known close contacts. Once info is reviewed by the contact tracing team w/the case, the tool delivers a text to close contacts & informs them of exposure & to isolate. The name of the positive case is not disclosed. (3/16)

We’ve seen large increases in continuing care & FN over the past few weeks. I want to acknowledge the teams & leadership of Siksika First Nation & Saddle Lake Cree First Nation. FN communities have done a remarkable job in protecting their communities & preventing spread. (4/16)

Their current numbers, like the numbers in the rest of AB, reflect how interconnected we all are. No group should be targeted or stigmatized. We must all support each other including supporting health care, continuing care & public health workers in every community. (5/16)

Yesterday we IDd 860 new cases, raising active cases to 8,300. 225 people are in hospital w/51 in ICU. When looking at all rural zones combined, we’ve crossed the threshold of 5% avg daily hospital growth over 2 weeks & sit today at 7% avg daily growth in rural zones. (6/16)

This week, we hit the trigger of 50%+ of COVID ICU capacity – we currently sit at 73%. These growing numbers are a concern & threaten our ability to deliver health services. Sadly, I must report 10 new deaths, my thoughts go out to everyone who has lost a loved one. (7/16)

There are active alerts or outbreaks in 307 schools – about 13% of all schools. These schools have 1,031 active cases. This includes 62 schools on the watch list. In-school transmission has likely occurred in 142 schools, 77 have had only 1 new case result. (8/16)

Today, Premier announced temporary mandatory & voluntary measures in effect from Nov. 13-27 to help limit transmission, reduce spread & keep people, communities & our health system safe. If you live in an area with enhanced measures, we need you to take action immediately. (9/16)

We are temporarily stopping group fitness classes, team sports & performances in #YEG & #YYC & their surrounding areas, #YQL, #YMM, #grandeprairie & #reddeer. This does not incl outdoor or individual sports/exercise, training or equip. use. Gyms are not required to close. (10/16)

It also does not apply to junior, university or professional sports. Group performances, such as singing, dancing and theatre must cease. This does not apply to professional venues as they have public health measures in place to limit exposure. (11/16)

All restaurants, bars, lounges & pubs in areas under enhanced status (50+ active cases/100K) must stop liquor sales by 10pm & close by 11pm until Nov. 27. Similar restrictions are in place in BC, SK, MB, ON & QC. (12/16)

Beginning Nov. 13, there is a 50 person limit on wedding & funeral ceremonies in enhanced status areas. We recognize the challenge to these limits but we have seen large outbreaks linked to these events. We ask faith-based orgs to limit attendance to 1/3 capacity/service. (13/16)

We are also asking employers in areas under enhanced status to reduce the number of staff in office buildings at any one time wherever possible. This may include rotating schedules or enabling staff to work remotely. We need all Albertans to do their part. (14/16)

We strongly recommend Albertans living in enhanced status areas do not have social gatherings at home. Please limit social interactions w/friends, extended family & others outside your household – do not have anyone who doesn’t live with you over for non-essential visits. (15/16)

If you can meet friends or family via Skype or Zoom, please start today. Now is the time to reduce the number of cohorts we are in & make it less likely we’ll be exposed to COVID or pass it on to others. We are in this together & must face this challenge together. (16/16)