ATHABASCA – As the number of positive COVID-19 cases are once again rising within the borders of Athabasca County, neither the town nor county has given any indication a new temporary face covering is being considered and there has been no discussion either municipality would consider a mandatory vaccine policy for its employees.
As of the Government of Alberta’s latest update to the current COVID-19 statistics in the province Aug. 26, the Athabasca region, which includes the town and county and Village of Boyle, counts 19 active cases. On Nov. 16, 2020, the town and county passed identical temporary face covering bylaws that set the threshold for implementation at 10 cases or an active case rate higher than 50 per 100,000 people. The active case rate currently sits at 145.3, with a population of 13,073.
The Village of Boyle declined to pass its own bylaw at the time. Regardless, the bylaws were superseded by provincial legislation Dec. 8, the restrictions of which were all but eliminated as of July 1 as part of the government’s Open for Summer reopening plan. As July 1 approached, the town and county each rescinded their mask bylaws. There were three active cases at that point.
CAOs from both municipalities said last week the bylaws were rescinded to stay in line with provincial regulations, and any notion of similar municipal regulations would have to be brought forward by council.
“Athabasca County continues to monitor provincial guidelines to determine next steps, if any,” said interim CAO Dawn Phillips in an e-mail. “Currently, there are no indications that a face covering bylaw would be reimplemented. However, we are monitoring the local conditions and may look at implementing measures if necessary.”
She added: “We are not considering mandatory COVID-19 testing for staff at this time, nor have our employees requested mandatory measures.”
Town of Athabasca CAO Rachel Ramey said mandating a vaccine for town employees isn’t a decision she would be willing to make, and she has not heard anything of the sort from town council.
“Yes, the mask bylaw was rescinded. If Council wishes to reinstate it, a new bylaw would have to be passed. Again, I have not heard anything from anyone at this point,” she said in an e-mail.
Athabasca County’s neighbours are also experiencing a surge in active cases, with Westlock County at 23 cases and County of Barrhead at 11 cases. Three people have died in each area since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. In Smoky Lake County, to the southeast, where there have been 12 deaths related to COVID-19, the current number of cases is at 51. The M.D of Opportunity has 17 cases, while Lac La Biche County has 15 in the hamlet itself.
The government reports provincial vaccination rates at 69.3 per cent of the 12+ population has been fully vaccinated with two shots (59 per cent of total population), while 77.7 per cent of the 12+ population has had one dose (66.1 per cent of total population).
The local vaccination rate falls short of the provincial average in nearly all demographics, especially in the 12-19 and 20-39 categories. Just 46.1 per cent of 12-19-year-olds is fully vaccinated, while 43.1 per cent of those between 20-39 have both shots. Numbers start to improve among the higher age brackets with 58.6 per cent of 40-59-year-olds fully vaccinated; 83 per cent in the 60-74 range; and 90.2 per cent for those over 75.
That makes for 62 per cent over the age of 12, and 54.4 per cent of the total population.
There are now 9,655 active cases in the province, with 336 in hospital, including 74 in intensive care. On July 1, there were 1,132 active cases, with 170 in hospital including 36 in ICU. There have also been 63 more deaths since then.
There have been 2,364 deaths in Alberta since the pandemic was declared.
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