EDMONTON — Sources confirm to CTV News that Alberta is considering delaying its planned pandemic response shift.

The province originally planned to end the mandatory mask mandate, quarantine requirements for close contacts and those who tested positive for COVID-19, testing and contact tracing of infections on Monday.

Sources tell CTV News that both the provincial government’s COVID-19 cabinet committee and caucus met Thursday to discuss the idea of extending those public health measures beyond Aug. 16.

David Shepherd, NDP health critic, responded to the potential change in posture for testing, contact tracing, and isolation requirements in Alberta Thursday evening, calling them the most basic pandemic health measures.

Shepherd said the government is considering a six-week delay in ending the measures. CTV News has not independently confirmed that information.

The opposition member said the premier owed Albertans an apology.

“We need Albertans to get back to work,” he said. “We can’t have any more of these reckless blunders from Jason Kenney.”

A provincial press release revealed an update is planned for Friday on the province’s guidance to school districts as they prepare for in-person learning starting in September. That press conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and includes Dr. Deena Hinshaw and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange  

This is a developing news story that will be updated as information is confirmed. More to come…

EDMONTON — Alberta’s COVID-19 numbers continued to worsen on Thursday as the number of hospitalizations, patients in intensive care and new cases all grew from the day before.

Alberta reported 550 new cases Thursday as active cases rose for a 26th consecutive day, up to 4,101 — about where the active case count was the second week of June.

The province reported 146 COVID-19 patients in hospital, up three from Wednesday’s adjusted total of 142. The patient count is the province’s highest since the Stage 3 reopening date of July 1.

There are 36 Albertans receiving coronavirus care in ICUs, up four from Wednesday, and the highest patient count since July 30.

The province has had over 100 COVID-19 patients in hospital every day since Aug. 3 and more than 20 patients in ICU since the start of the month.

Among eligible Albertans, 76.6 per cent have received a first dose of vaccine and 67.4 per cent have had two doses.

The province reported a 6.45 per cent test positivity rate on about 8,500 tests. 

Alberta plans to end routine COVID-19 testing next week, with testing no longer recommended for those with symptoms unless the result is needed to direct future care. 

In addition, the province’s testing facilities will close down at the end of the month, leaving primary care settings such as hospitals and doctor’s offices as the main venues for testing. 

Alberta has already closed routine testing to asymptomatic individuals including close contacts to those who test positive.

Those limits on testing mean the daily case counts will lose much of their meaning without routine screening. 

The next data update is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

EDMONTON — A fire at a commercial building in Athabasca’s downtown has caused road closures and detours in the area.

The building is in the area of 50 Street and 50 Avenue, residents say it used to be a Home Hardware.

Witnesses told CTV News Edmonton the fire started around 6:55 p.m. Wednesday evening.

An emergency alert was sent at 8:11 p.m. telling people in the area that the heavy smoke was “significantly impacting the area.”

RCMP have closed some roads surrounding the fire so crews have room to work.

EDMONTON — A hyper-local hybrid version of Edmonton’s Fringe Festival begins Thursday.

The festival has been reimagined as a combination of live and digital programming to help reduce capacity on the grounds and in venues.

Tickets will be required for theatre performances and for the outdoor entertainment in ATB Park.

Some artists at this year’s Fringe Festival “Together We Fringe” will offer online and in-person performances.

Fringe TV will offer on-demand and livestreamed entertainment options that people can watch from home.

Masks must be worn inside theatre venues. Organizers say the venues will be thoroughly sanitized between performances, and audience sizes are limited.

Tickets for “Together We Fringe” are available online.

The Edmonton Fringe runs from Aug. 12 to 22.

EDMONTON — The Perseid meteor shower that’s been streaking through the summer sky since late July will be visible to Edmonton stargazers the next two nights.

It’s commonly known as the summer’s best meteor shower because it’s one of the biggest showers of the year with up to 100 meteors per hour expected to move across the sky Wednesday and Thursday night.

“If anyone’s out and about and it’s clear enough out, look up,” Frank Flourian, senior manager of the planetarium at the Telus World of Science, said.

“You should be able to see these little streaks of light crossing the sky all little bits of a comet burning up from the earth’s atmosphere.”

‘GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY NATURE’

Flourian suggests heading out of the city to get away from bright lights and look for somewhere more rural and dark. He told CTV News Edmonton, this will improve the visibility of the meteor shower.

Plus, because the moon will be setting so early on those nights, the sky will be especially dark making for optimal viewing.

“It’s just great to get outside and enjoy nature,” Flourian added,

“With the pandemic and things like that people really want to do something really cool. Take your family, go outside, it’s something you can do just by yourselves.”

For more information on the celestial event head online.