EDMONTON — Alberta’s COVID-19 status continued to worsen Thursday as the province reported more new cases, hospitalizations, and patients in intensive care units than the day before. 

The latest numbers released Thursday show 487 patients in hospital, up 14 from the day before and most since May 27. 

Those 487 include 114 patients in ICU, and increase of seven from the day prior.

The strong majority of new cases and severe hospitalization are among those who haven’t received a shot. More than 88 per cent of those in ICU are unvaccinated, as are close to 74 per cent of those in hospital.

Five more Albertans’ deaths were attributed to COVID-19 Thursday bringing the province’s death toll to 2,388.

The province reported 1,339 new cases Thursday, pushing the active case count to 12,868, about where it was in the third week of May.

Among eligible Albertans, 78.2 per cent have received a first dose of vaccine and 70 per cent have had two doses.

The next data update is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

EDMONTON — Alberta’s Opposition New Democrats are urging Premier Jason Kenney to bring in new rules to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for anyone attending non-essential businesses and mass gatherings.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the province should also return to mandatory masking for anyone unvaccinated entering essential places, including grocery stores.

Notley says it’s critical Kenney act now to arrest rapidly rising infection rates and to protect hospitals from being overwhelmed.

Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia and Quebec are phasing in or already have requirements for people to show a vaccine card, online image or smartphone verification for many activities deemed non-essential, including visiting bars, restaurants, casinos and sports events.

“This is coming and if we don’t act now, I fear we will reach a place where Albertans will be scrambling to catch up with the rest of the world, and our health care and our economy will have been needlessly injured in the process,” Notley said Thursday in Calgary.

“No one wants to go back to restrictions. That’s why we’re proposing a better way.”

Notley suggested Alberta could develop a QR digital code that would be available on smartphones or for downloading online to prove vaccination status.

Kenney’s United Conservative government, citing health privacy as one reason, has repeatedly said it will not mandate proof of vaccination.

Many municipalities, schools, universities, sports teams and businesses developed their own rules on masking, testing and vaccinations.

On Friday, Edmonton officially reinstates a requirement to wear face coverings in indoor public areas, including stores and restaurants.

Kenney’s government lifted almost all health restrictions July 1. It said it was time to stop treating COVID-19 as a crisis and instead manage it long term, which would free up health workers and resources for other health issues.

In recent weeks, case counts have been rising sharply, averaging more than 1,000 new infections a day for the past week. On Thursday, there were 1,339 new cases and 487 people in hospital, 114 of whom were in intensive care.

The caseload is putting renewed pressure on health care. Surgeries have been delayed, patients have been transferred and some emergency room beds have been temporarily closed.

Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro and Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province’s chief medical officer of health, haven’t met with the media in weeks to say what – if anything – they will do.

Kenney took self-selected questions from Albertans for about 70 minutes Wednesday night on Facebook. In the online chat, he said his government would be using more incentives to get people vaccinated, but didn’t give details.

He also said his government is considering renewed public health measures.

“We have always looked at restrictions as a last and limited resort,” said Kenney. “If indeed we do see this wave jeopardizing the health-care system, we may have to take some very targeted actions.”

Kenney read aloud multiple comments from Facebook viewers lauding his leadership, but another accused him of hiding by not holding a news conference.

Kenney rejected that.

“I’m hiding in plain view,” he said.

“This (online chat) goes straight to ordinary Albertans, gives you a chance and others a chance to ask a question. I think that’s public accountability right there.”

When Kenney announced in mid-June that all health restrictions would be lifted, he said the plan was predicated on more people getting vaccinated.

Kenney said he hoped 75 per cent of eligible Albertans – those 12 and older – would be fully immunized by fall. The government organized three $1-million prize draws along with other gifts to spur Albertans to get their shots.

On Thursday, the province announced 70 per cent of those eligible were fully vaccinated.

Kenney renewed his call for Albertans to get vaccinated and noted that the majority in hospital with COVID-19 were not. He cautioned his Facebook watchers to be aware of false information.

“Please don’t believe every crazy Facebook page you might stumble upon.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 2, 2021.

CALGARY — In a Facebook Live appearance Wednesday night, Premier Jason Kenney defended his government’s handling of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kenney, speaking publicly for the first time since Aug. 9, echoed remarks made by Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, that re-implementing restrictions is not the way to move forward in the public health crisis.

“As Dr.Hinshaw has said, we have to in the long run learn to live with COVID by which she means that the virus will continue to circulate,” he said.

“There is no viable so-called COVID zero policy,” he added. “You can see the catastrophic failure of that in places like Australia and New Zealand, where cases continue to go up even through they’ve been on multiple prolonged, severely-damaging lockdowns.”

Rather than restrictions, Kenney said the emphasis should be on vaccinations.

“This is really a wave of the unvaccinated. Over 90 per cent of people in ICU with COVID right now are unvaccinated and it has increasingly become a disease of the unvaccinated,” he said.

“If we had instead of 78 per cent of vaccine coverage or 69 per cent full coverage, if we had 90 per cent coverage, we would not have meaningful pressure on the healthcare system.”

“What we have to do here,” he added, “is keep pushing those vaccine numbers up, ensure that we have the healthcare capacity. And we may have to take other measures to encourage people, the unvaccinated, to ensure that they are not putting themselves in a position of transmitting.”

While he didn’t get specific about what those other measures might be, Kenney rejected the notion of a vaccine passport for Albertans.

“That doesn’t mean vaccine passports In my view but it means, please people, if you’re not getting vaccinated please act responsibly because you’re jeopardizing your own health, that of your neighbors, your family and you loved ones.”

NO PROVINCIAL MASK MANDATE

As far as mask mandates go, Kenney said individual institutions and businesses were free to implement their own.

“The reality is that people if they feel they should wear a mask they can do so and there is a mask mandate that applies to rapid transit and mass transit, rideshares, taxis, and of course certain work places like hospitals and long term care centers and other particular workplaces,” he said.

Responding to criticisms that he has been AWOL during the fourth wave, Kenney said, “I know some people were apparently angry that I took a bit of personal time but I don’t do that much… as I say… it’s the second time I’ve taken what I would call an extended period off .. A couple of weeks since 2015…  Especially for everyone in a high pressure job, having a chance to recharge your batteries, rest and reflect to catch up on your sleep is very important to your productivity.”

The province reported 1,315 new cases Wednesday, the most since May 13, pushing the active case count to 12,290, about where it was in the third week of May.

The number of Albertans receiving care for COVID-19 in intensive care units reached a three-month high on Wednesday, according to the province’s Wednesday data update.

The latest numbers show 107 patients in ICU, up 87 since Aug. 1 and the highest since June 3. 

Those 107 are included in 465 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the most since May 29.

More than 88 per cent of those in ICU are unvaccinated, as are close to 76 per cent of those in hospital.

With files from CTV Edmonton

EDMONTON – Natalie Pepin starts the evening by talking about the shame her family sometimes felt growing up Metis and the racism she’s experienced in Alberta.

Then – she takes her students on a journey – teaching about the beautiful elements of her heritage that she’s connected with and grown to appreciate.

“We can’t paint everything with beautiful flowers all the time, and we can’t always be focusing on the tragedies only. We have to experience the beauty, and the very real stories of our people,” she explained.

Pepin is giving Edmontonians a fresh source for Indigenous knowledge this fall, during a series of workshops launched at Fort Edmonton Park Wednesday.

Indigenous Perspectives includes traditional stories and classes in birch bark basket making, traditional plant harvesting and jewellery making.

“These arts are beautiful, yes, but they encapsulate our culture. They have so many teachings within them and those teachings are beautiful too,” Pepin, now a Metis Cultural Educator, said before her first class Wednesday evening.

The event started with a tea and smudge ceremony. Pepin introduced herself and her own journey, before leading her class on a walk through native plants while explaining their traditional uses.

The class then made tea out of rose hips and baskets out of bitch bark.

A different version of the workshop focuses on wolf willow bead and quill dying, elements then used to make jewellery.

Pepin feels she’s not only teaching history, she’s helping to advance the important work of truth and reconciliation in Canada.

“I firmly believe one of those steps, and one of the early steps, is connecting with each other as different peoples and developing an appreciation and respect for each other’s cultures. That’s the foundation upon which truth and reconciliation can happen,” she said.

Anyone is welcome to attend the classes and the cost is $75. There were 120 tickets available over 8 weeks, but it was mostly sold out Wednesday.

Pepin said Indigenous people who have lost, or never had, a firm connection to traditional teachings have also expressed interest in the class.

Fort Edmonton officials say the workshops expand on the new Indigenous Peoples Experience they opened this summer.

“This is just another iteration of taking that Indigenous narrative, that connection to our Indigenous communities to the next level,” Renee Williams at Fort Edmonton Park said.

The quick ticket sales had Williams thinking more classes will likely be added.

The workshops are also supported by a grant from EPCOR.

EDMONTON — Council agreed Wednesday to pass the county’s bylaw on temporary mandatory face coverings

starting Sep.10.

The bylaw will require masks or face coverings to be worn in all indoor public places including recreation centres, places of worship, and theatre and spectator seating areas. Face coverings will also be mandatory on public transit and in taxis and rideshares.

The bylaw will not apply to children under two years of age and those with mental or physical limitations inhibiting their ability to wear a face mask.

Exemptions will also be in place for people exercising or eating in designated areas or as part of a religious ceremony.

“Our council and or community is in a difficult situation. In recent weeks, COVD-19 cases have grown,” said Mayor Frank.

During August, 396 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Strathcona County averaging 13 new cases and five recoveries daily, according to Alberta Health.

There are currently 284 active COVID-19 cases in Strathcona County according to the province’s latest data Wednesday.

A ‘DIVISIVE’ ISSUE

Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank called the issue around reintroducing the county’s mask mandate ‘divisive’ in Wednesday’s council meeting.

“There’s also been a dearth of information from the authorities on the current situation this week. Many of our citizens are demanding action. At the same time, this is a divisive issue.”

“Our job today is to cut through this dissidence, to use all the tools and means we have been provided, to make a decision that’s in the best interest of Strathcona County and its citizens,” said Mayor Frank.

The fine for not wearing a mask when required in Stratcona County is $100. The bylaw will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2021.