Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Tuesday, Feb. 16
Alberta reported 263 new COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths
The latest:
- Alberta reported 263 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, compared with 251 new cases reported Monday.
- There were 4,993 active cases on Tuesday, down from 5,222 the previous day.
- The testing positivity rate is 5 per cent, up from 4.6 per cent the previous day.
- Nine people have died, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 1,791.
- There are 356 people in hospital as of Tuesday, including 56 in intensive care.
- The provincewide R-value, which refers to the average number of people infected by each person with the virus, was 0.85, which did not change from the previous day.
- As of Tuesday, the province has confirmed a total of 221 cases of people infected with the coronavirus variants — 214 of the strain first identified in the U.K. and seven of the strain first identified in South Africa.
- As of Monday, 149,138 doses of the vaccine had been administered. There are now approximately 54,024 Albertans who are fully immunized after receiving both doses.
- The Olymel slaughterhouse plant in Red Deer will temporarily shut down due to a rapidly growing COVID-19 outbreak at the facility, the company said Monday.
- Alberta's chief medical officer of health said Tuesday the province chose not to shut down the slaughterhouse because for months the company had been successfully managing the outbreak.
- Darwin Doloque, 35, died of COVID-19 on Jan. 28 after contracting the virus in the outbreak at the slaughterhouse.
- As of Monday, 326 employees at the plant had tested positive for COVID-19, nearly double the count of 168 on Feb. 6. Of those, 192 remain active.
- Calgary police say a video showing an officer shaking the hand of an unmasked, anti-mask protester on Saturday captured the end of a peaceful negotiation — with no day-of enforcement despite a number of people breaking Public Health Act rules.
- The incident happened as dozens of unmasked protesters walked through Chinook Centre to protest public health restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Air travellers landing in Canada will have to quarantine in a hotel, at their own expense, starting Feb. 22 for up to 72 hours, according to government sources who spoke with CBC News, with an announcement expected later Friday. Last month, the federal government announced air travellers returning from non-essential trips abroad will have to isolate in a federally mandated facility for up to three days while they await the results of a polymerase chain reaction test, commonly known as a PCR test, at an estimated cost of up to $2,000.
- The hotel stay would be part of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for returning non-essential travellers.
- The tighter federal restrictions and the growing spread of more highly contagious variant strains of coronavirus in other parts of the world, prompted the Alberta government to say Thursday that it would suspend the border testing pilot at the Calgary airport when the new requirements come into effect.
- Starting Monday, all travellers arriving at land border crossings are required to show proof of a negative PCR test completed in the United States within the previous 72 hours — in line with new federal rules.
- Border officers can't legally deny entry to Canadians, but those who show up without proof of a test could face fines of up to $3,000.
- About 380,000 public- and private-sector workers — such as health-care and social-services workers and education support workers — will receive one-time payments of $1,200 for putting themselves at risk on the job during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alberta government announced on Wednesday.
- However, the new program is leaving some employees and unions frustrated as they puzzle over who is eligible for the cash.
- Calgary is reopening bookings at some municipal arenas and pools that can be booked for one-on-one training or for lessons or practices for minor teams (up to 10 people), but not for games or group exercise, the city said.
- Close to a third of Alberta's active COVID-19 cases have no identified source, sparking concerns that important data could be missing as the province eases restrictions and at the same time tracks a growing number of variant cases.
See the detailed regional breakdown:
Here is the detailed regional breakdown of active cases as of Tuesday.
- Calgary zone: 1,887, down from 1,989 reported on Monday (47,245 recovered).
- Edmonton zone: 1,333, down from 1,435 (50,507 recovered).
- North zone: 737, down from 753 (10,076 recovered).
- South zone: 344, up from 330 (5,811 recovered).
- Central zone: 679, down from 706 (8,811 recovered).
- Unknown: 13, up from 9 (104 recovered).
Find out which neighbourhoods or communities have the most cases, how hard people of different ages have been hit, the ages of people in hospital, how Alberta compares to other provinces and more in: Here are the latest COVID-19 statistics for Alberta — and what they mean
Here are the latest Alberta COVID-19 stories:
Alberta didn't shut down slaughterhouse because it had been 'successful' in managing outbreak
Alberta's chief medical officer of health says the province chose not to shut down a slaughterhouse after weeks of growing cases and one worker death, because for months the company had been successfully managing the outbreak.
On Monday, Quebec-based Olymel voluntarily closed its Red Deer, Alta., pork processing plant. It said that due to the growing outbreak it could no longer manage operations in a safe and efficient manner. It was an abrupt change of position, telling CBC News hours earlier it had planned to remain open.
Alberta Health Services and Occupational Health and Safety were not involved in that decision, and both had approved the plant to continue operating.
As of Tuesday, there were 343 cases of COVID-19 linked to the current outbreak, 200 of which were active.
On Jan. 28 — more than two weeks ago — Darwin Doloque, a 35-year-old employee at the plant, died of COVID-19 linked to the workplace outbreak.
"It's important to remember this particular plant has had sporadic cases, one or two at a time, for several months, and the processes that had been put in place at the plant site had been very successful in reducing spread," Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday.
For more, see: Alberta didn't shut down slaughterhouse because it had been 'successful' in managing outbreak
One week after restrictions eased, Alberta reports 263 new COVID-19 cases
Alberta eased some restrictions a week ago, but it's too early to say what impact those changes are having, said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health.
Evidence shows that social gatherings are responsible the highest rates of transmission, she said, noting the province saw its last spikes following Thanksgiving and Halloween holiday season get-togethers.
"This sacrifice [the restriction on gatherings] has had the biggest impact on reducing spread in the province, relieving the pressure on the health-care system and getting us to the point that we are at today," Hinshaw said.
"We cannot become complacent now, especially with the arrival of variants of concern in our province."
Provincial labs completed 5,216 tests on Monday, with a positivity rate of about five per cent, which is higher than in previous days.
"This is an increase from where we have been in the past few weeks, which is concerning," Hinshaw said of that rate. "It is possible this increase is because of changes in who went for testing over the long weekend. So we will be watching closely in the days to come to see if this is an isolated finding or a concerning trend."
The province now has a total of 221 cases of two faster-spreading variant strains of the virus. Of those cases, 214 are the B117 variant first identified in the United Kingdom and seven are the variant first detected in South Africa.
"I know that many Albertans are concerned about these variants, and I am, too," Hinshaw said Tuesday at a news conference.
"I am particularly concerned about the growing number of cases that are not linked to travel. Though many of these cases are the results of close contacts that we have identified through robust contact tracing."
Calgary police say officer shook anti-masker's hand for agreeing to peacefully end protest
Calgary police say a video showing an officer shaking the hand of an unmasked, anti-mask protester captured the end of a peaceful negotiation — with no day-of enforcement despite a number of people breaking Public Health Act rules.
On Saturday, dozens of unmasked protesters walked through Chinook Centre to protest public health restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Videos of the event posted to social media show police officers escorting the protesters, and one officer shaking an unmasked protester's hand and leaning in close, with an arm around the man's shoulder, as the two converse.
Police said in a release on Monday evening that members from its public safety unit, beat teams and diversity resources team were in attendance, and that the diversity resources team negotiated with the protesters to ensure they left the mall peacefully.
"At the end of this negotiation, a handshake was offered and accepted. Another protester was nearby speaking into a bullhorn so the officer leaned in closer to hear what is being said," police said.
Shortly after, the protesters left the mall, police said.
"Our role at demonstrations such as these is to ensure public and officer safety, and for this reason, it is sometimes better to follow through with enforcement action post event. We commit to investigating the full scope of events in the coming days to determine what enforcement action may be taken."
For more, see: Calgary police say officer shook anti-masker's hand for agreeing to peacefully end protest
A look at where CERB payments went at beginning of pandemic
Federal data, obtained through the Access to Information Act by The Canadian Press, provides the most detailed picture yet of where billions of dollars in emergency aid went last year.
CERB paid out nearly $82 billion to 8.9 million people during its lifetime, paid out to those who lost their jobs or had their hours slashed.
CERB usage appeared higher in urban areas with higher COVID-19 counts, like Calgary's northeast.
"These are real worries and challenges that members of my community have been facing throughout a pandemic," said Calgary Coun. George Chahal.
For more, see: A closer look at where $82 billion in CERB payments went at the beginning of the pandemic
COVID-19 in long-term care under Alberta auditor's microscope
Alberta's auditor general will examine how the Alberta government managed billions of dollars in extra federal funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an audit plan for 2021-22 posted on the auditor's website.
"In identifying potential areas to audit, our office will continue to look at areas of highest risk and importance, including programs and services that impact vulnerable citizens, and investments and activities designed to leverage economic recovery," the audit plan reads.
The auditor will also scrutinize the province's management of the pandemic in long-term care and supported living.
For more, see: Opioid crisis, COVID-19 in long-term care under Alberta auditor's microscope
CEO of Calgary drug company speaks with Ottawa
Providence Therapeutics CEO Brad Sorenson says he has been approached by the federal government about his company's made-in-Calgary vaccine.
Sorenson told CBC News Network's Power & Politics that this is the first time a COVID-19 vaccine designed and manufactured in Canada has begun trials.
He said the office of Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne approached Providence Therapeutics about the vaccine.
"We've heard from a number of premiers, and I'm happy to report that I was approached by Minister Champagne's office to have a discussion with him," he said.
For more, see: CEO of Canadian drug company says Ottawa has approached him about his firm's made-in-Canada vaccine
Alberta ends border testing program at Calgary airport
Alberta has ended its border pilot program at the Calgary airport as new federal restrictions have come into place.
"Thanks to the testing processes already in place because of our border pilot, Alberta's labs are well positioned to support this new federal requirement," Dr. Deena Hinshaw said.
The border pilot at the Coutts border entry, meanwhile, will continue until a decision is made by the federal government on whether additional restrictions are needed at land border crossings, Hinshaw said.
On Monday, Alberta began requiring all travellers arriving at land border crossings to show proof of a negative PCR test completed in the United States within the previous 72 hours.
For more, see: Alberta changing rules to require negative COVID-19 tests at international border crossings
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For the latest on what's happening in the rest of Canada and around the world, see here.
With files from The Canadian Press