COVID-19 Update: 1,733 new cases, eight deaths | 18 cases in MRU men's hockey program
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With news on COVID-19 happening rapidly, we’ve created this page to bring you our latest stories and information on the outbreak in and around Calgary.
What’s happening now
- The province reported Monday 1,733 new COVID-19 cases on 20,499 tests and eight new deaths. There are 16,454 active cases in Alberta.
- The time for educating Calgarians on COVID-19 restrictions is over and enforcement will now be the rule, city officials said Monday.
- An outbreak at the Calgary Remand Centre has caused the delay of a murder trial. There are 41 cases in the outbreak as of Monday.
- Critics are condemning a radio interview in which Premier Jason Kenney issued a “wake-up call” to members of the South Asian community on the spread of COVID-19.
- Eighteen members of the Mount Royal University Cougars men’s program have tested positive for COVID-19, including players and staff.
- Moderna Inc. plans to request clearance for its coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. and Europe today, after a new analysis showed the vaccine was highly effective.
- Nunavut is to start lifting a two-week lockdown on Wednesday as more people infected with COVID-19 recover.
- Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole accused the Liberal government Sunday of putting too much emphasis on partnering with a Chinese company for a COVID-19 vaccine in what turned out to be a failed deal.
- Experts say the pandemic may be having an especially hard impact on the mental health of young people.
- Justice Minister Kaycee Madu said Friday the province is temporarily increasing the number of peace officers who can issue fines for violating public health orders.
- Masking compliance remains high in Calgary; officers have only handed out 12 tickets since Aug. 1.
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Hospitalizations and case rates expected to increase before impact of restrictions felt, Hinshaw says
Hospitalizations and case rates are likely to increase for the next few days as the province waits to see the effects of new restrictions, Alberta’s top doctor explained Monday while announcing another 1,733 cases of COVID-19.
With 96 of the 453 hospital COVID patients in intensive-care units, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, continues to worry about how much worse the strain on the health-care system will be before it gets better.
“I suspect that we will continue to see cases and hospitalizations rise over the next several days, as we wait for the impact of the restrictions that were announced last week,” said Hinshaw during Monday’s press conference.
In an average influenza season, at its peak, Alberta has about 30 patients in ICU with influenza. Currently, there are more than triple that number of COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care.
Parks Canada announces new COVID-19 restrictions; Banff council votes to extend mask bylaw
New restrictions and closures in the Banff National Park were issued by Parks Canada over the weekend as the Town of Banff added more restrictions and tightened existing ones.
Effective Saturday, Parks Canada announced they’d be closing all in-person operations in both Banff and Lake Louise, including visitor centres, until Dec. 15. The Cave and Basin historic site and the Bow Valley Parkway will also be closed to the public.
33 Calgary schools on ‘watch’ list as high schools move to at-home learning
There are 33 Calgary schools on the province’s “watch” list on the first day of at-home learning for Grades 7 to 12.
That’s an increase of six since Wednesday last week, when 27 schools were on the “watch” list with five or more cases of COVID-19.
There are an additional 40 schools in Calgary dealing with outbreaks of two to four cases.
Monday was the first day of at-home learning for Grade 7 to 12 students across the province, and Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said that students moving out of the schools should lead to a reduction in cases and outbreaks attributed to schools.
“I do want to be clear: there is a lag time between actions and results,” she said Monday. “While cases may not be attributed to schools as students are at home, they will be still reflected in our overall active cases.”
Province-wide, there are 376 schools with active alerts or outbreaks, about 16 per cent of schools in Alberta. There are 1,405 active cases in those schools, Hinshaw said.
There are 203 schools with two or more cases, including 88 on the watch list with five or more cases.
Kenney asks Albertans to be ‘responsible’ while protesting, but does not condemn large rallies
In question period Monday, Premier Jason Kenney highlighted the legal right to demonstrate.
“We ask Albertans to be responsible in their actions … obviously when it comes to the constitutionally protected right to protest,” said Kenney.
Employee at Forest Lawn Library tests positive for COVID-19
Strict enforcement of COVID-19 laws now the reality, say city officials
The time for educating Calgarians on COVID-19 restrictions is over and enforcement will now be the rule, city officials said Monday.
In the wake of reports of chaotic crowds at Chinook Centre last Friday and an illegal anti-lockdown protest at city hall the following day, violators can now expect to be ticketed, said city police Supt. Ryan Ayliffe.
Hockey Calgary looks at Saskatchewan model to get kids back practising
Minor hockey kids remain on the ice in Saskatchewan under strict conditions.
Under provincial guidelines there — including reduced numbers — youngsters will be allowed to practise the game they love, giving officials with Hockey Calgary cause to ponder if a similar blueprint can be drawn up here.
1,733 new cases, eight deaths
Alberta chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided an update on the province’s COVID-19 numbers.
- 1,733 new cases on 20,499 tests; ~8.4% positivity rate
- Eight new deaths; 541 total
- 453 in hospital; 96 in ICUs
- 16,454 active cases in Alberta
- Active alerts or outbreaks in 376 schools, 16% of schools in Alberta; 1,405 active cases in these schools
- 203 schools with outbreaks of two or more cases; 88 on watch list with five or more cases
- 41 cases in outbreak at Calgary Remand Centre
You can watch it below.
Braid: Moderna boss won’t push Canada aside in rush for COVID-19 vaccine
Columnist Don Braid writes: Moderna expects to produce 500 million to one billion doses next year for worldwide distribution. Astonishing.
And Moderna is only one of three vaccine makers, with more to come, that will be pumping massive levels of vaccine into distribution channels.
The biggest question now for Canada isn’t supply of vaccine. It’s distribution.
Calgary moving from education to enforcement on mask bylaw: CEMA chief
18 members of Mount Royal men’s hockey program test positive for COVID-19
The Mount Royal University Cougars men’s hockey program is dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19 that’s affected 18 players and coaches.
The team stopped training “when the first individual experienced symptoms,” according to a statement from the university, and members are now self-isolating.
MRU’s various varsity teams had all been training “under multiple safety protocols beyond those required by the provincial government,” the statement said, noting that under the new restrictions imposed on Friday, no teams will be training until after the new year.
This is the first instance of spread in the campus community, MRU said in its statement.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and other MRU Cougars staff is our top priority,” the statement said.
Kenney’s ‘wake-up call’ to northeast Calgary condemned as ‘scapegoating’
A radio interview in which Premier Jason Kenney urged members of Calgary’s South Asian community to respect public health restrictions has sparked backlash from those who say the remarks unfairly singled out racialized people for Alberta’s growing spread of COVID-19.
Kenney’s comments came Wednesday during an interview on RED FM. Kenney said he wanted the interview to be his first since announcing new public health restrictions related to social gatherings the day prior.
Nunavut to start lifting its two-week lockdown as COVID-19 cases recover
Nunavut is to start lifting a two-week lockdown on Wednesday as more people infected with COVID-19 recover.
The lockdown that shuttered all schools and non-essential businesses was put in place on Nov. 18 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus that first appeared in the territory early this month.
Murder trial derailed by COVID-19 outbreak at Calgary Remand Centre
A lockdown at the Calgary Remand Centre because of a COVID-19 outbreak has at least temporarily derailed the trial of a man charged with murdering and dismembering his father.
Justice David Labrenz on Monday sent jurors in the trial of Zaineddin Al Aalak home after the accused was unable to attend court in person.
“Because he’s in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre it’s caused a problem today because apparently the remand centre’s had an outbreak of COVID-19,” Labrenz said.
Moderna to seek COVID-19 vaccine clearance today, which could come as early as Dec. 18
Moderna Inc. plans to request clearance for its coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. and Europe today, after a new analysis showed the vaccine was highly effective in preventing COVID-19, with no serious safety problems.
The primary analysis, which included 196 cases, found the vaccine was 94.1 per cent effective, in line with preliminary findings released earlier this month.
The new results put the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company on track to have one of the first COVID-19 vaccines to be cleared in the U.S. A similar vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE was submitted to U.S. regulators earlier this month and is scheduled to be reviewed ahead of Moderna’s shot.
COVID-19 vaccine: A look at how provinces and territories are readying for rollout
The federal government is laying plans for the procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, inking contracts with seven potential manufacturers and saying six million doses could arrive in the country in the first quarter of 2021.
The most recent development from Ottawa came Friday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tapped former NATO commander Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin to lead the national distribution effort.
But various provinces, including Alberta, have started spelling out their plans as well. Here’s a look at what they’ve said so far.
As race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine nears the finish line, airlines prepare for ‘mission of the century’
In cooled warehouses on the fringes of Frankfurt airport, Deutsche Lufthansa AG is preparing its depleted fleet for the gargantuan task of airlifting millions of doses of the vaccines meant to end the global pandemic.
Lufthansa, one of the world’s biggest cargo carriers, began planning in April in anticipation of the shots that Pfizer Inc. to Moderna Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc are developing in record time. A 20-member task force is at work devising how to fit more of the crucial payload onto the airline’s 15 Boeing Co. 777 and MD-11 freighters, along with hold space in a vast passenger fleet now flying at just 25 per cent of capacity.
Laid low by a COVID-19 outbreak that’s decimated passenger demand, airlines will be the workhorses of the attempt to eradicate it, hauling billions of vials to every corner of the globe.
From our editorial pages:
Montreal long-term care home sends 20 residents to hospital after COVID-19 outbreak
A Montreal long-term care home transferred 20 residents to local hospitals on Sunday after a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility drew concern from officials and families this week.
Francine Dupuis, associate president and director general of the local health agency, said 18 residents of Maimonides Geriatric Centre who tested positive for COVID-19 were sent to Hotel Dieu Hospital.
COVID-19 numbers for Monday:
- Quebec is reporting 1,333 new COVID-19 infections and 23 more deaths linked to the novel coronavirus. The province’s Health Department says there are 693 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 28 more than the previous day. Ninety-four people are in intensive care, an increase of two.
- Ontario is reporting 1,746 new cases and eight deaths. Tougher public health restrictions under the provincial framework take effect in five regions today, with Windsor-Essex moving to the strictest level short of a lockdown.
- Manitoba health officials are reporting 342 new cases and 11 additional deaths. The government enacted strict measures on business openings and public gatherings more than two weeks ago, yet the test positivity rate remains at 13 per cent.
- Nova Scotia is reporting 16 new cases, most of them in Halifax, bringing total active cases to 138.
PM only turned to Pfizer, Moderna after vaccine deal with China failed: O’Toole
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole accused the Liberal government Sunday of putting too much emphasis on partnering with a Chinese company for a COVID-19 vaccine in what turned out to be a failed deal.
O’Toole said the Trudeau government only turned its attention to pre-ordering tens of millions of vaccine doses from companies such as Pfizer and Moderna in August after its collaboration between the National Research Council and Chinese vaccine-maker CanSino finally collapsed after months of delays.
The Council had issued CanSino a license to use a Canadian biological product as part of a COVID-19 vaccine. CanSino was supposed to provide samples of the vaccine for clinical trials at the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology at Dalhousie University, but the Chinese government blocked the shipments.
“I would not have put all our eggs in the basket of China,” O’Toole said at a morning news conference.
Mounties ramp up enforcement at Manitoba church opening against provincial orders
Mounties have ramped up enforcement at a Manitoba church that was slapped with a fine for holding a service last weekend that allegedly violated provincial COVID-19 health orders.
The Church of God Restoration in Steinbach posted videos on its Facebook page that appear to show the church’s empty, snow-covered parking lot, with RCMP officers positioned at its entrances and a long line of vehicles parked along the roadway.
Studio puts brakes on Flash filming in Vancouver after positive COVID-19 test
The CW’s The Flash has suspended production in Vancouver after a team member tested positive for COVID-19.
Deadline first reported the development on Sunday, Nov. 29.
‘Six feet isn’t a magical number’: COVID-19 can spread in restaurants despite precautions, says expert
Bars, restaurants, and anywhere people interact indoors with shared air is where COVID-19 is more likely to spread, says an Edmonton infectious disease expert.
Dr. Leyla Asadi says all interactions should be looked atas a potential source of transmission and limited as much as possible.
“If you’re in a setting where your mask can’t be on, then it’s a higher-risk situation,” Asadi says. “Six feet isn’t a magical number. There is spread beyond that sometimes when the conditions are right or poor ventilation, for instance, or if the individual is symptomatic and is coughing.
“I think taken all together, it suggests that the bars and restaurants and coffee shops are places where transmission certainly can occur.”
ICU admissions near 100 in Alberta, 1,608 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday
Alberta reported its second-highest new case rate on Sunday, as the number of Albertans in intensive-care units neared 100.
Ninety-five of the 435 people in hospital with COVID-19 now require intensive care, which is seven more than on Saturday. Alberta hospitals exceeded the benchmark of 70 full acute-care COVID-19 beds last week and are preparing another 400 to cover the surge of ICU admissions.
Alberta Health reported an additional 1,608 cases of COVID-19 Sunday and 1,731 cases on Saturday — the highest and second-highest case rates the province has seen. The positivity rate on Saturday was about eight per cent and dropped slightly to just under seven per cent Sunday.
Young Albertans facing mental health concerns amid pandemic and tougher restrictions
The COVID-19 pandemic is uprooting the lives of young Albertans and taking a toll on their mental health, say experts who warn it could have a lasting effect on their futures.
Clinical psychologist Brae Anne McArthur said youth who are experiencing higher adversity and have lower socio-economic status are most at risk.
“The tween- and teen-age range is really prime for the development of mental health disorders, so this is a time when we see an escalation in a lot of symptoms, depression, anxiety and suicide rates,” said McArthur, who is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Calgary focusing on the determinants of child development.
“Ultimately how they manage and cope right now is predictive of their adult mental health.”
COVID-19 concerns raised after video shows crowding at Chinook Centre
Black Friday shopping at Calgary’s largest mall was in full swing this year despite new public-health orders meant to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 within Alberta.
Calgary university student Taylor Tuffnell, who works part-time at one Chinook Centre retailer, said she was shocked by the flurry of visitors to the mall Friday.
“There were a lot of waves of people chatting in the hallways, blocking everything,” Tuffnell said.
“People are flouting the regulations and flocking to the malls because they don’t want to risk the fines of having indoor gatherings, in my opinion anyway.”
With its high concentration of essential workers, northeast Calgary vulnerable to COVID-19
Mayor Naheed Nenshi said that as someone raised in northeast Calgary who lives there to this day, the torrent of cases feels personal.
Many people living in the region have working-class jobs at places like grocery stores, warehouses and continuing-care centres, he said.
“These are my neighbours. And I get frustrated when people say, ‘We have to protect the economy at the expense of mental health because we have to protect the poor and vulnerable,’ because many of my neighbours work in essential services,” Nenshi said.
“And when we say that we’re keeping the economy open to protect them, we’re also putting them at risk by making them go to work and deal with people who may not be isolating.”
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