The Community
Press Volume 113, Issue 35
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
$1 Including GST
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ‘PRESS
36th Annual
Heisler Elks extend thanks to front line health workers Page 11
Draw Winners
Moms Connection group creates community for Flagstaff moms Page 10 Community Cares webinar series rolling out with Flagstaff focus Page 11
Congratulations to the 2021 Sweethearts Draw winners Gary and Janet Zettel from Killam. Gary entered Janetʼs name at three participating locations and was the lucky winner from hundreds of entries. The Zettels will enjoy gifts and gift certificates from Wild Rose Co-op Sedgewick Home and Farm Centre; Budding Ideas and Paw Prints in Killam, Lakeview Liquor Store in Hardisty, Wild Rose Co-op Killam Liquor Store, Apple Drugs/Daysland Pharmacy, Main Street Medley in Alliance, Guardian Drugs Killam, The Apothecary Shoppe/The Source in Forestburg, Killam Subway, Purple Scissor Salon in Daysland, Coutts Home Hardware Forestburg, and The Community Press.
New Flagstaff Featured Business Profile Page 28
AND MUCH MORE!
Province slowly advances into Step 2 of reopening Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The province of Alberta has lifted some of the restrictions outlined in its Path Forward Step 2 effective Monday, March 1, with some remaining in place as leading indicators are not improving at the hoped-for pace. Premier Jason Kenney said on Monday, “I’d like to thank every Albertan who has responsibly observed all public health measures through Step 1 over the past several weeks, to protect lives and our healthcare system in the process. “I know this has not been easy, especially with the cold weather in February limiting our ability to gather outdoors. “The sacrifices Albertans have made are the reason we are able to take another step forward today.” That step includes reopening libraries in the province, at 15 per cent of capacity, not including employess, as well as indoor low intensity and group fitness activities. Health Minister Tyler Shandro outlined the changes, to take effect immediately, saying that the province relied on recommendations from the
fitness sector in making Monday’s decision, including how low-intensity is defined. “We wanted to offer more flexibility while keeping safe.” Expected easing of restrictions on retail stores, further easing on children’s sports, hotels, banquet halls, community halls, and conference centres will be delayed. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw says that the province had 291 new cases Monday, and 5,900 tests, for a positivity rate of 4.9 per cent. All three, Kenney, Shandro, and Hinshaw, indicated that the expected drops in new cases has not been as expected, and positivity rates and R-values remain higher than what the province would like to see moving fully into Step 2. Hinshaw said the vaccine is the best defence, with 235,000 doses administered, and 88,000 who’ve had their second shots, with 123,000 booked appointments since Wednesday. She extended thanks to Alberta seniors for their patience, and family and friends of seniors for help with online booking and travel to appointments. Hinshaw added her thanks to Alber-
tans for following the pandemic restrictions, but noted that the easing of restrictions Monday, “Is not a signal that we’ve turned a corner. We need to be more careful than ever. The choices we make every day deeply matter.” Kenney said that the remaining items in Step 2 have not been added to Step 3, but may roll out sooner if numbers come under control. Kenney reiterated that things can change quickly, pointing to the number of hospitalizations this past fall going from 100 to 900 in just five weeks. Of concern is the positivity rate, which has plateaued rather than declined into a level the province would like to see. Kenney said the east side of Alberta, including Flagstaff County, is doing very well, with just 50 cases per 100,000 of population, especially compared to the northeast quadrant of the province, currently experiencing 1,600 cases per 100,000. Hinshaw added, “Even in low rate areas, it doesn’t take long for the virus to spread if given the chance,” urging Albertans to continue to follow the guidelines in place. Hinshaw said the province is working
on a report that will show how transmission of the COVID-19 virus has happened in Alberta, but says that it is extremely complicated and time consuming. She urged anyone with symptoms to be tested, and if positive, to ensure they are self-isolating. Hinshaw said data shows around 40 per cent of those who have had COVID-19 got it through household contact. Kenney said that one of the key indicators for reopening is hospitalization numbers, which have dropped, “but it is lagging three to four weeks after the number of infections. Hospitalizations are a key metric, but not the only metric. “We have seen a slight increase in cases, in variant cases, and in a positive R-value.” Kenney credited aggressive contact tracing as one of the key reasons why the variant has not spread in Alberta as widely as predicted, but added, “However, we have gone from 12/day to 24/day.” The Flagstaff region has gained one active case since last week’s report, and overall has seen 103 people recover from the virus out of 106 infected.