Alberta cabinet must weigh risks and rewards of regional reopening, top doctor says
CBC News | Posted: May 12, 2020 7:30 PM | Last Updated: May 12, 2020
Dr. Deena Hinshaw will make recommendations Tuesday to emergency management committee
When cabinet's emergency management committee meets Tuesday evening, part of the discussion will centre on the risks and rewards of a regional approach to reopening sectors of the economy, says Alberta's top doctor.
With Stage 1 of the relaunch plan perhaps less than 48 hours away, the province's chief medical officer of health is expected to make recommendations to cabinet about how to proceed.
Calgary and parts of southern Alberta have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 over the past two months.
The regional breakdown of cases on Tuesday was:
- Calgary zone: 1,017 active, 3,225 recovered.
- South zone: 237 active, 918 recovered.
- Edmonton zone: 60 active, 436 recovered.
- North zone: 26 active, 186 recovered.
- Central zone: 15 active, 82 recovered.
- Unknown: 6 active, 19 recovered.
"There's no one perfect answer to relaunch," Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Tuesday at her latest news conference. "Certainly if we take a regional approach, there's the risk that we could further spread transmission if people from an area that's closed travel outside that area to get services elsewhere.
"But of course, there's also the risk of spread with opening things up. So that's the kind of discussion that needs to happen, to make a final decision, and again, there really is no one perfect way to do the relaunch.
When looking at the options, Hinshaw said, the most important consideration will remain the safety of the public.
1 more death, 45 new cases
Alberta reported one more COVID-19 death on Tuesday and 45 new cases of the disease.
That brings the total number of deaths in the province to 118.
There are currently 1,361 active cases in the province, with 4,866 people listed as having recovered.
On Tuesday, 73 people were in hospital being treated for the illness, with 12 of them in ICU beds.
As the number of COVID-19 cases in Alberta continues its trend downward, the province inches closer to reopening parts of the economy as early as Thursday.
Cohort concept
At her news conference, Hinshaw talked about the concept of cohorts, meaning small groups of people.
"A while ago I mentioned how two families could form a cohort to help split child-minding activities and provide an opportunity for parents and children to socialize," she said.
"I know that people want to see family and friends, and to see them in a way that doesn't keep them a hockey stick apart."
As the province moves into relaunch, she said, it will be important for Albertans to limit the number of people they come in close contact with, she said, since that's the best way to limit the possibility of spread.
"Expanding your cohort to a very small group of people can work, but you need to follow all guidance and ensure that everybody is committed to only being a cohort with each other. It is important that people still limit social contact with others outside of this cohort.
"Social gatherings where people share food and drinks are a risk. Kids' sleepovers with friends are a risk. These activities should only happen with a small cohort group."
The province has reached the point where it can consider reopening because Albertans have followed public health guidance and protected each other, Hinshaw said.
"I ask that you stay the course, and continue to practise physical distancing, hand-washing and other measures in order to make our relaunch successful."
Stage 1 guidelines
On Monday, the province released a new online tool to help prepare businesses that could be allowed to reopen as early as Thursday.
The guidelines are aimed at businesses eligible for the Stage 1 relaunch which include restaurants, retail stores, daycares, hair salons and barbershops, and places of worship.
The final decision on whether to move to Stage 1 has not yet been made.
"These guidelines are applicable to all settings, whether it is a shopping mall, retail business or specific sector," Hinshaw said. "Businesses can work through these guidelines and make decisions about how to apply the guidance for their specific setting. This will look different for each environment."
Public health officials continue to draft more specific guidelines for some sectors, she said.
"An important thing for all businesses to consider is what mechanisms they can put in place so patrons understand what is required of them," Hinshaw said.
Safety a two-way street
"Business operators know their business better than we can. And it's a two-way street. Customers and business operators are both responsible for being safe and using common sense.
"In many settings it may be appropriate to post signs reminding patrons to not enter if they are feeling sick, and to remind them to maintain two metres between themselves and other customers."
Business owners will also have to some way to check to make sure their employees are well and to ensure they go home if they are ill, she said.
At the Cargill meat-packing plant in High River there are 25 active cases and 920 people have recovered, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said at a news conference.
In the outbreak linked to the JBS plant in Brooks there are 44 active cases and 582 people have recovered.