Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Vol. 43, No. 50
‘Tis The Season
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YOUR LOCAL PAPER
More COVID-19 restrictions Masks mandatory province-wide, certain businesses to close, take-out only at restaurants/bars, stricter bans on gatherings Leslie Cholowsky Staff Reporter More, and severe restrictions for Alberta were announced late Tuesday by Premier Jason Kenney. Around the province, COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise at a high rate, with more record-breaking new case counts over the weekend, and hospitalizations, including those in intensive care, stressing Alberta’s hospitals further. Effective immediately, Alberta now requires that every Albertan wear a mask in all indoor public spaces and workplaces throughout the province. The current ban on indoor social gatherings will remain in place, and outdoor gatherings are now also restricted to households only, also effective immediately, with some limited exclusions for those who live alone. Mandatory work-at-home measures are now in place for all Albertans, starting Sunday, Dec. 13. All staff must work from home unless employers decide that a physical presence is required for operational effectiveness Other measures which come into effect at 12:01 am Sunday, Dec. 13 are as follows: Fitness centres and personal services, like hair salons and nail salons will be shut down altogether. All libraries, museums, and theatres must also close. Indoor recreation facilities, including skating rinks and pools, will close. Some outdoor rinks and ski hills may remain open, with new guidelines to be provided by the Province. Retail stores will be allowed to remain open, but will face even more customer restrictions, with customers limited to no more than 15 per cent of the maximum allowed
under fire occupancy, or no more than five people. Pre-ordering and curbside pickup is recommended wherever possible. Malls are also allowed to stay open, with the same 15 per cent occupancy maximum. Places of worship are also impacted, also limited to 15 per cent of their capacity, and being urged to move to online or drive-in services. Province wide, restaurants, pubs, lounges, and cafes are closed to inperson service, only takeout and drive through services are allowed. Also closed are casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, legions, night clubs and private clubs. Recreational facilities, like fitness centres, rec centres, pools, spas, arenas, libraries, and community halls must close. There was no change to the current schooling measures, with in-store schooling for Grades 1-6 expecting to end Dec. 18 from the last measures, introduced Nov. 30. Hotels may remain open but must close fitness facilities and in-person dining. Health services, including physio and acupuncture will remain open, as will child care. Indoor children’s play centres, concert halls, community theatres, banquet halls, indoor or outdoor festivals, trade shows, sporting events, or competitions will remain closed from the previous announcement. Kenney said, “I know how devastating this news is for employers and business owners, and employees. “It’s not their fault, the truth is, we are now at a place where viral transmission is so widespread that it doesn’t matter how careful we are. Reducing social interactions is the only way we can get on top of this.” Hinshaw said Monday, “We are still witnessing very high transmission of the virus, which is putting
enormous pressure on our hospitals, intensive care units and health care workers. “It is also putting tremendous strain on our continuing care facilities and many other sectors. “I am more concerned than ever before about the spread of this virus. “Every one of us needs to be a part of this, and we need to come together to protect each other.” The Province also announced changes to financial supports available to small businesses across Alberta impacted by the new measures. Minister Doug Schweitzer, as he announced the new financial supports, urged all Albertans to keep everyone affected by the new measures in mind as we go through the next four weeks, offering them any support possible. Small businesses can qualify for up to $20,000, with eligibility lowered to a 30 per cent drop in revenues, from the previous 50 per cent, retroactive to March, which should allow a total of 30,000 businesses to qualify for additional supports, “so they can survive through this and come out at the other end.” Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer, said on Monday, Dec. 7, “The steadily rising COVID numbers in our province continue to be extremely troubling.” Hinshaw also said Monday that additional restrictions were necessary; “I will be blunt: so far, we are not bending the curve back down.” There were 1,727 new cases announced Tuesday, with 642 in hospital, and 112 of those in intensive care. Kenney said that hundreds of surgeries had already been cancelled, although Hinshaw said some urgent surgeries will continue. There have now been 640 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Alberta.
MLA Lovely wins community outreach award Leslie Cholowsky Staff Reporter
Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely has been recognized by her peers at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta by being named in the Alberta MLA Awards for Best Community Outreach. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Honourable Nathan Cooper said Thursday, Dec. 3, “In the spirit of collegial recognition, I initiated the Alberta MLA awards last year and felt it was even more important this year to recognize the work of our elected officials.” Members of the Legislative Assembly voted for their colleagues in a number of categories, with nine MLAs recognized for “extraordinary work in service of the people of Alberta,” including Lovely. “This year has been exceptionally challenging, and the Members of this Assembly have worked tirelessly in the service of this province and its people,” said Cooper. “I thank all Members for their service. Congratulations to those who are receiving special recognition from their peers today.” Lovely says, “Winning this award was a team effort along with many members of the Camrose Constituency. “ Lovely reached out to the Camrose constituency in late October when she held the first “Slice of happiness” evening in Camrose where a number of Flagstaff and Camrose residents were honoured. She has also been a strong advocate for local businesses and community organizations and groups on social media throughout the constituency from the start of the pandemic in the spring. She says, “All of the business owners, not-for-profit organizations, school principals and teachers, volunteers, and event organizers made this possible by agreeing to assist me with the many videos and pictures we recorded to share information with the community. “I had so much fun engaging with all of them and hope to continue. “Our objective was to share and that is always good fun!” See MLA AWARDS P2