1155 new Covid cases in AB
10655 active cases
310 in hospital (26 more than yesterday)
58 in ICU
11 new deaths

Waiting for Hinshaw presser to start

Hinshaw recognizes today as National Child Day. Notes that Covid has brought a lot of change and uncertainty for children. Says we can't forget the impact that restrictions and Covid will have on child development.

"Our current situation is grim." - Hinshaw

Our provincial positivity rate is at about 6.5%

Hinshaw says she is concerned in the rise of the tragic outcomes of Covid. Two individuals this week who died of Covid in Alberta were in their 30s.

Hinshaw notes 1/4 people who need hospitalization in AB and 1/6 in ICU w/ Covid have no pre-existing medical conditions. Hinshaw notes that having a pre-existing condition is very common. 1/4 of all Albertans over the age of 20 have a chronic condition.

Hinshaw says than half the men over 50 in Alberta have high blood pressure and that should not be a death sentence.

Hinshaw says that AHS manages ICU beds and staff depending on Covid19 patients and patients who need intensive care. AHS is able to add additional care capacity as we reach the previous threshold of Covid beds.

Hinshaw says that adding ICU capacity means that other care will be impacted. Says that lowering hospitalizations will be dependent on reducing community transmission of Covid.

Hinshaw notes that people haven't been honest regarding Covid symptoms when visiting loved ones in the hospital. Says if this behaviour continues that AHS will have to reduce visitation even further.

"Do not go to a healthcare facility if you are feeling sick unless you are there for your own care." - Hinshaw

12% of Alberta schools seeing active alerts or outbreaks
67 on watchlist
In school transmission has likely occurred in 166 schools

More active cases in Alberta this week than previously. Contact tracers fighting an uphill battle. Hinshaw encourages people to be honest to contact tracers and to share information to AHS so they can anonymously inform close contacts on your behalf.

Hinshaw says if you are an event organizer and asked to identify attendees to do so quickly. Contact tracers are having trouble keeping up with the demand.

Hinshaw says she asks it is easy to think of a cherished family member or friend, but it is just important to think of others and the healthcare system.

Hinshaw encourages everyone to abide to all public health measures this weekend - even if you don't like them or agree with them.

Hinshaw says that kindness and firmness are more important than ever before and we must all have permission to grieve. Says we can only get through this by working together.

Onto Q&A...
Hinshaw says it takes about a week to see an impact of restrictions. Since new restrictions just went in last Fri that impact might be seen this wknd. Watching current numbers very closely.

Hinshaw says that she is watching the numbers closely and will be bringing recommendations to "decision makers" if numbers don't go down.

Alberta is the only province w/o a mask mandate.
Hinshaw says that all policy decisions on how to respond to the pandemic are discussed and benefits and challenges are looked at carefully. No decision if a mask mandate will put in by AB. Looking at options.

Ongoing technical issues today with the operator putting through callers. Trying to reconnect with the operator.

Tech issues now fixed, back to the Q&A...

Hinshaw says AHS has always had a suite of several hundred ICU beds. 70 was the metric that was put in the spring to note how much pressure was on the system. 173 is the usual # of ICU beds, but need extra space and to slow down other services.

Hinshaw says that if all 173 ICU beds are full of Covid patients that health services won't be as available for people with other health needs. Hinshaw says we cannot expand to the full scope of all of our beds in the system without causing problems for other health issues.

Q regarding why certain health decisions were made and why superspreader event information hasn't been shared to the public.
Hinshaw says that the measures were put in place last week as they looked @ the settings where there has been the highest risk of Covid spread.

Hinshaw says if there is a slip in protocols in places like group fitness activities or social gatherings that Covid has a higher chance of causing a large spreading event.

Hinshaw says that she has a different perspective when it comes to triggers. Says that R value measures were put in early Oct w/ voluntary measures. Hinshaw says we need to adjust our capacity metrics, looking at them now.

Hinshaw says that 50% ICU threshold was triggered last week and that's what put in last Friday's additional measures. Says that they've been responding to metrics all along.

Hinshaw says they're waiting to see the impacts of last week's measures and ICU utilization. Says it would be convenient for people to have a road map to be laid out, but in AB data needs to inform the restrictions.

Hinshaw says since our data is behind due to contact tracing that we need to look outside of localized data. Says that predictability of health measures would be helpful for Albertans and they're looking into it.

Hinshaw says that different studies point to restos and bars as a source of transmission if there are no measures in place in like in the US. Says that BC's data is similar to AB showing that restaurants aren't a significant source of spread. We have measures in place.

Hinshaw says that this week she has been working w/ her team to prepare a suite of things under consideration. No discussion w/ the gov't on measures that would be deemed appropriate. Still in planning phase.

Hinshaw says she cannot speak to the Premier and that q's on policy need to be directed to the gov't. Says that her decisions have been made on the impacts of Covid and also the impacts of restrictions.

Hinshaw says that it has been challenging to consider the right balance of measures to bring down Covid while maintaining the mental health benefits of activity and socialization. Takes those in account with her recommendations.

Hinshaw says that she puts in measures that have a minimum impact to people's lives. Says that Albertans need to follow the current health measures other they might get further health measures if the curve isn't bent.

Hinshaw says the reality of outbreaks in continuing care is that many staff are impacted. When that happens the care homes experience staffing shortages that then impacts care for the residents.

Exemptions for staff travelling from a care site w/ an outbreak to another care site w/o an outbreak is to help the staff who are there as other staff is away sick or isolating.

Hinshaw expects testing numbers will be ready by early next week. Still experiencing a challenge of the flow of data from labs. Data pipeline still getting fixed. Recognizes it has been unfortunate it hasn't been provided recently.

Hinshaw says that there are different roles and responsibilities in responding to the pandemic. Does her best to share her info with Albertans. Says Kenney & Shandro attend only when announcements are being made & they have busy schedules.

That is it that is all. I'm personally flabbergasted that we are heading into another weekend without further health measures. I feel like Albertans are sitting ducks and are being used as an experiment and I don't understand why.
Have a good weekend, stay home.