WESTLOCK — The measures instituted by the provincial government Dec. 13 to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will remain in place for another two weeks.
Premier Jason Kenney said the government is focused on reopening schools: “Classes will resume as planned on Monday,” a decision he said was made based on data gathered before and after Grade 7-12 students were sent home for the month of December.
Between September and the winter break, 0.4 per cent of students tested positive for COVID-19.
As for the danger of in-school transmission, about six per cent of all school cases were acquired at school, said Alberta’s chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw.
The restrictions that were first announced early December have reduced the daily increase in cases somewhat, but testing over the holidays has been reduced over the holidays. Case numbers would have been higher had they tested more, Kenney said.
In the last 24 hours, 968 cases were identified, 14,833 tests were conducted, and the positivity rate sits at 6.4 per cent. Hinshaw added that on average the province is still recording 1,000 cases daily.
There are 13,298 active cases. Hospitalizations sit at 861, with 139 of those in ICU. Another 24 people passed away since yesterday’s update. The death toll in Alberta reached 1,217.
Despite the reduction in case data, numbers are still very high, especially compared to those recorded in the summer and early fall. Hospitalizations, the rate of transmission and the positivity rate remain high compared to the summer and early fall.
“We got used to high numbers,” Kenney said, because of the early and mid-December 2020 record breaking peaks the province reached in positivity rate (over nine per cent) daily increases of more than 1,800, and total active cases at over 30,000.
In the past, “a bad day would be two per cent (positivity rate).” The highest rate of hospitalizations was 953 with 145 in ICU on Dec. 30, 2020, compared to 94 hospitalizations in July 2020.
More time is needed, Kenney said, for testing numbers to stabilize and the impact of the holidays on COVID-19 numbers can be analyzed.
Kenney said an update on immunization progress will be given tomorrow.
Kenney apologizes for traveling staff
After a series of confusing and changing messaging from the premier on the members of his caucus and staff who travelled abroad during the holidays despite provincial and federal restrictions, Kenney used the COVID-19 update to apologize.
“Albertans said they wanted there to be consequences. I heard them and there have been serious consequences. They were right to make that demand, and that is why those responsible lost jobs, suffered demotions and we have changed our policies to ensure that elected officials and senior officials in public positions of trust do not travel abroad during this pandemic unless it is for truly essential reasons, I don’t foresee those circumstances,” Kenney said.
“Trust has been broken and I accept that that trust must be repaired.”
Watch Dr. Hinshaw's COVID-19 update from Jan. 7, 2021:
