The Alberta Government held a joint press conference this afternoon to discuss the latest on the pandemic.
Premier Jason Kenney, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, and Alberta Health Services President & CEO Dr. Verna Yiu all took to the stage.
Premier Kenney started off by addressing the naysayers for the pandemic, stating that all the numbers and statistics are scientific proven facts.
Currently there are 22,280 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
186 of the cases are in Intensive Care, with 38 non-pandemic ICU cases.
ICU cases are 30% higher.
The hospitalization rate is 26% higher.
“Nobody wants restrictions in place, and everyone wants this pandemic over as soon as possible, said Kenney.”
He pointed out that other countries around the world are opening up, and it’s due to a high number of the population having been vaccinated.
As of today, 48.9% of Albertans 12 and up have received at least one vaccine.
That percentage is expected to hit 50 either today or tomorrow.
2.1 million doses have now been administered.
Kenney pleaded with Albertans, “Please do your part by following the public health measures for just a little while longer, and by getting vaccinated as soon as you can, so that all of us can get back to normal and enjoy a truly great Alberta summer.”
AHS President & CEO Dr. Verna Yiu provided an update on the effect that the pandemic is having on Alberta’s healthcare system
She pointed out that the amount of ICU cases now is about six times the number when dealing with influenza during an outbreak in 2016.
Yiu went on to talk about staffing and capacity, and how it’s been an issue.
They’ve had to deal with over capacity, by relying on patient transfers, along with overworking current staff.
Yiu noted that she’s very proud of her AHS staff.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw updated one of the restrictions in place.
Drive-in events can now take place.
Dr. Hinshaw addressed some of the mis-information circling social media.
Included in her “myth busting” was the rumour that the pandemic is worse in urban areas compared to rural.
Numbers show that the North Zone has had higher hospitalization rates per capita then the rest of the province.
Dr. Hinshaw also talked about how positivity rates are holding steady, or have seen a slight decline, since the new restrictions were put in place. However, the North Zone continues to see a rise in numbers.
Premier Kenney also debunked the idea that the pandemic is worse in the urban areas, and that those in Northern Alberta should have different restrictions.
“COVID is everywhere, we all must be careful”
He stated that we’ll all have a re-opening plan in place once a certain number of the population is vaccinated.
The hope is to announce something by next week.
-Damien Gnass, Trending 55
