Here is a summary of today’s #COVID19AB update. Over the past 24hrs we have identified 732 new cases & completed approx. 13K tests. Our provincial positivity rate sits at about 5.5% & we have 10K+ active cases. There are 287 people in hospital including 57 in ICU. (1/13)

AHS is working hard to meet demand & has plans to ensure beds for COVID-19 patients are available if needed. AHS can increase hospital spaces by reducing the number of other patients. This means reducing elective surgeries & ambulatory care visits as seen in #YEG zone. (2/13)

Hospitals are increasing spaces by opening units & equipping spaces. AHS can create temporary ICU beds in spaces that would otherwise be used for specialized care. But, there are consequences - delayed access to non-COVID care & there is a ceiling to capacity expansion. (3/13)

We need Albertans to do their part. By working together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community, we can reduce the need for hospitalization and demands on our hospitals. (4/13)

There are active alerts or outbreaks in 320 schools – about 13% of all school in AB. This includes 64 schools on the watch list. In-school transmission has likely occurred in 157 schools – about 83 had only 1 new case result. (5/13)

I must report 11 new deaths over the past 24 hrs. My condolences go out to those mourning lost lives today & since the pandemic began. Almost 1/4 of our COVID-19 deaths have happened since Nov. 1. If we do not change our trajectory, the implications are grim. (6/13)

Every day about 250-350 people are getting sick & we have been unable to ID the source. This puts us all at greater risk. This is why we put last week’s measures in place. They are focused on settings where there is the highest risk of one case spreading to many. (7/13)

I am disappointed at reports of orgs & businesses continuing activities - fitness studios running group classes w/a video rather than an instructor or some team sports continuing practice by moving to neighbouring community’s rink or teams continuing to socialize together. (8/13)

The intent of these measures is to facilitate a 2 week hard stop of all activity that can provide an opportunity for large scale spread. I have heard people say they believe it will last longer, so they don’t want to comply. We cannot create a self- fulfilling prophecy. (9/13)

Any individual, group or business that chooses to continue, is risking the time limited nature of the restrictions & risks further restrictions to their own businesses & activities & further restrictions for all those choosing to comply. I thank the many doing their part. (10/13)

This is deadly serious. I ask everyone to abide by all public health measures. Albertans cannot write off symptoms as just a cold. What is a mild illness to many is deadly to some. Stay home & get tested if you have symptoms. (11/13)

Do not avoid testing because it’s inconvenient or you don’t want to get a party host in trouble. With unknown sources at current levels, there are cases we don’t know about – each is a threat to the health of others & a threat to the healthcare system. (12/13)

Alberta, we can still bend the curve. If we work together, if we live by the same rules, if we take the same precautions and if we believe in a common goal, we can slow the spread. Coming together is the only way we can. (13/13)