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
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.