CALGARY – A group of British Columbia researchers who track COVID-19 infection rates say Alberta is expected to see declines in case counts, as well as hospitalizations, in the weeks to come.

The BC COVID-19 Modelling Group — an independent group comprised of epidemiology, mathematics and data analysis experts from post-secondary institutions and the private sector — says there has been a “significant reversal in growth” in hospital admissions in Alberta that coincides with the provincial government’s announcement of public safety measures on Sept. 15.

Case counts and hospitalizations, including intensive care unit admissions, are expected to decrease throughout November.

COVID-19 case count, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admission modelling in Alberta. (B.C. COVID-19 Modelling Group)

On Tuesday, the provincial government announced 442 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw confirmed 836 people with confirmed cases are currently hospitalized in Alberta including 182 in ICUs.

At the height of the fourth wave in mid-September, Alberta saw new daily case counts in excess of 1,600 and hospitalization numbers greater than 1,130.

EDMONTON – A sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin for an Edmonton police officer who assaulted an Indigenous man in a 2019 arrest.

Const. Michael Partington will appear in Alberta Provincial Court in Edmonton on Wednesday morning.

He was shown on video to drop his knee into the back of a suspect who was prone on the ground.

Const. Partington was found guilty after a five-day trial in August where Judge Peter Ayotte ruled the officer’s actions were “not only … unnecessary, but in the circumstances a gratuitous assault on an unresisting suspect.”

At trial, Partington claimed to be helping a fellow officer restrain the suspect and that his use of force was reasonable given the circumstances.

He has been suspended without pay since charges were laid in June 2020.

‘DIDN’T DO ANYTHING’

The incident happened Aug. 27, 2019, in the area of 115 Avenue and 95 Street.

The man’s anguished cries can be heard on video of the arrest, at one point yelling, “I didn’t do anything,” as he’s subdued.

“Please stop!” the man yells repeatedly as officers pin him down.

Another police officer walking over from a parked vehicle drops his knee into the man’s back, causing him to scream out in pain once again.

“Do not run from the police,” an officer yells back. “Do you think I wouldn’t catch you?”

“You ran away from me,” one officer later says. “You didn’t even confirm your name.”

As the man is stood up to be taken to a nearby police vehicle, he asks the officers, “What is your problem?”

An officer then appears to strike him in the face, causing him to scream and fall to his knees.

Partington has been an EPS officer for five years after a career in the Canadian military. 

EDMONTON – Alberta’s chief medical officer of health will provide a COVID-19 update Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Watch Dr. Deena Hinshaw speak live on CTVNewsEdmonton.ca.

The province reported nearly 1,600 new cases over the weekend and 25 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 fatalities to 3,051. Alberta averaged about eight deaths from COVID-19 a day over the past week.

As of Monday, there were 821 people in hospital with the disease, including 182 patients in intensive care units.

Active cases dipped under 10,000 for the first time since the last week of August, falling to 9,481.

Monday also saw Alberta’s Restrictions Exemption Program come into full effect. Albertans visiting businesses or events participating in the program now need to show proof of full immunization.

Among all Albertans, 73.7 per cent have received at least a first dose of vaccine and 67.1 per cent have had two or more shots.

Unvaccinated Albertans continue to be the most at risk of suffering a severe outcome after contracting COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. 

Edmonton – Edmonton Member of Parliament Randy Boissonault has been named as the new federal minister of tourism. 

Boissonault was sworn-in to the role on Tuesday morning. He is also now the associate minister of finance. 

He is one of 39 members of the new cabinet, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, that has just seven ministers retaining the portfolio they previously held.

Boissonault was elected in Edmonton Centre in 2015, defeated in 2019 and re-elected last month.

He was one of only two Liberals elected last month in Alberta.

The other, Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal, was left out of the new cabinet. Elections Canada is investigating him after a doorbell camera video showed him removing a rival candidate’s flyer.

Edmonton – A 34-year-old woman is in hospital with serious injuries after she was hit by a train in southeast Edmonton on Tuesday morning.

Police say the woman was walking westbound on the north sidewalk when she tried to run across the railway tracks at Maple Road near 8 Street.

The woman was hit by the front of a northbound train and taken to hospital by paramedics, according to police.

The train has been moved down the tracks and an investigation is ongoing.

TRAFFIC BLOCKED OFF

Streets near Maple Road and 8 Street reopened around 10:30 a.m. after being closed for part of the morning.

Some residents of the Tamarack neighbourhood say they were essentially locked out of their community by the road closure.

“I live on the other side of the train track and unfortunately, that’s the only way,” said Jody Solomon.

“We’re really hoping that with the new mayor in the city that this is something that can get looked at,” she said.

“If there was an accident or somebody in need there’d be no crews that would be able to get through.”

Last January, residents of the neighbouring Maple Crest community voiced similar concerns after fire trucks en route to a residential fire were delayed by a crossing train.

The communities are located southwest of the interchange at Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive.

Maple Road serves as the main thoroughfare in and out of the area.

Meridian Road serves as an alternate route, though residents described it to CTV News as “unpaved” and “unmaintained.”