No quarantine for COVID-19 after Aug. 16: Alberta set to end restrictions
Alberta is lifting much of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions in the coming weeks, even as case counts climb and the virus continues to infect unvaccinated Albertans.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, in her first COVID-19 update since June 29, announced Wednesday that starting Aug. 16, people who test positive for COVID-19 will not be mandated to quarantine anymore, but the province will recommend it.
Additionally, Albertans with COVID-19 symptoms will not be asked to get tested, but to stay at home until they feel better.
Two weeks later, COVID-19 tests will only be available to people who need to go to the hospital or see a physician.
That was just part of a shift in the province's public health response as it moves to lift a number of measures related to quarantine, isolation and masks.
Starting Thursday, close contacts of COVID-19 cases will no longer be mandated to quarantine, but isolation will still be required for positive cases and people with symptoms.
Masks won't be mandatory in public transit, rideshares and taxies starting on Aug. 16, the province announced. Some masking may still be required in hospitals or continuing care facilities.
In Lethbridge, Premier Jason Kenney said it's time to think differently about COVID-19.
"We have to get used to fact that cases no longer equal high levels of hospitalizations or fatalities," Kenney said. "Our focus is on vaccines instead of restrictions as the most scientific response (to COVID)."
With a UCP leadership review vote days away, a new poll shows Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stuck around 30 per cent
'PLEASE GET VACCINATED'
Hinshaw reported 194 new cases of COVID-19 and a positivity rate of 2.9 per cent in her update.
"Cases have risen recently, almost entirely in those who have not been fully vaccinated as we expected would likely happen as people come into close contact with each other again," Hinshaw said.
Since July 1, when the province lifted the large majority of its restrictions, people not fully immunized accounted for 95 per cent of COVID-19 cases, 94 per cent of hospitalizations and 95 per cent of deaths caused by the disease, Hinshaw added.
As of Tuesday, 75.6 per cent of eligible Albertans had one dose and 64.3 per cent were fully immunized.
"We still need to increase those numbers but this is encouraging progress," Hinshaw told media.
She echoed Kenney's comment that at some point in the history of the virus, it's necessary to shift the point of view.
“The question is, what time points do we make a shift into living with COVID?" she said. "I think everyone's aware that we're not going to eliminate COVID."
"And so, there are risks and benefits of different time points of making that shift," she added.
University of Calgary's Craig Jenne infectious disease expert said the low vaccine rate among 20 to 29-year-olds could be a concern when school goes back to class in the fall
While Hinshaw and Kenney tried to turn the page to the next chapter of COVID-19, University of Calgary infectious diesease specialist Dr. Craig Jenne warned that there's such a thing as a bumpy transition to that next chapter, particularly with the Delta variant and a quarter of the eligible population remaining unvaccinated.
"(When) people that are infected are no longer required to quarantine and they are allowed to go back into the community, back to work or back to school, there is a risk they will pass that virus onto other unvaccinated people," Jenne said.
SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTION
Following the announcement by Dr. Hinshaw, social media erupted as a number of physicians weighed in on the news.
Dr. Joe Vipond said the announcement was so disheartening, he was at a loss to respond to it:
There are 84 Albertans with COVID-19 in hospital and 18 in ICU. Only one of the ICU patients has two doses, Hinshaw said.
"Please get vaccinated. If you haven't gotten both your doses yet, this is your time."
With files from CTV Edmonton
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.