Western Canadian province of Alberta leads country in COVID-19 cases but government is silent


By: Thomas I. Likness
EBC News Service


(Eagle News) — As the fourth wave of the pandemic rages through Canada, Alberta has the dubious distinction of having the most number of active cases of COVID-19.

The province reports it has 11,426 active cases.

Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, with three times the population of Alberta, reports only 6,028 cases.

What many people find disturbing is the lack of response from the Alberta government.

It has been more than two weeks since anyone in government has spoken about the Covid crisis.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney hasn’t been seen for three weeks. His office says he is on vacation but doesn’t disclose where.

Health Minister Tyler Shandro has not spoken on the issue for a couple of weeks.

And the last time Albertans heard from Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw was two weeks ago.

That’s when she announced the province would delay its plan to lift mandatory isolations rules, and scale back testing and contact tracing until the end of September.

Doctors say they will fill the information gap

In their absence, a panel of doctors and experts has stepped up to provide daily updates on the fourth wave.

“People have asked if we are trying to replace the gov’t: we can’t replace gov’t as we have no power to make policy decisions,” Calgary emergency room physician, Dr. Joe Vipond tweeted Monday. “We will try to provide important information on the state of affairs on the ground, and best practices for avoiding Covid.”

Vipond adds Alberta needs the government to return to governing.

Booster shot now available for vulnerable people

Meanwhile, Albert announced beginning September 1 that it will province a third dose of the vaccine for people who are immunocompromised and seniors living in congregate settings.

As well, people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine, or a mix of AstraZeneca and the Pfizer or Moderna shot, will also be eligible for a third shot if they are travelling to a destination that doesn’t accept AstraZeneca.

The government made the announcement in a news release but did not make anyone available for comment.

While the province has not reacted to the surge of new cases, the City of Edmonton has reinstituted its mask bylaw.

It is the first municipality in the province to do so.

Masks will be required in all indoor spaces, whether they be privately-owned businesses or public places.

The regulation goes into effect Friday and will stay in effect until the end of the year.

(Eagle News Service)