COVID-19 Weekly Regional Update
Michelle Pinon
News Advertiser
Premier Jason Kenney announced updated health measures during the COVID-19 update.
Kenney said libraries and indoor fitness facilities could re-open as pressure eases on the health system and hospitalizations remain well below 450. “These facilities can now open, but must limit capacity to 15 percent of fire code occupancy, not including staff.”
Unsupervised low intensity individual and group exercise are allowed by appointment only. Low intensity activities include: weight lifting, low-intensity dance classes, yoga, barre and indoor climbing, as well as the low-intensity use of treadmills, ellipticals, and related equipment.
High-intensity activities, including running, spin and high-intensity interval training, continue to be allowed only on a one-on-one with a trainer basis, or training with a household and one trainer.
As a cautionary measure, changes to current restrictions for retail, children’s sports, and hotels, banquets, community halls and conference centres have been delayed.
“We are taking a cautious approach, recognizing that active cases and hospitalizations have declined, but the threat of COVID-19 remains real. Thanks to the hard work of Albertans over the past few weeks, we’re taking this safe step forward. Albertans have proven their ability to make a difference, so let’s continue in our efforts to keep cases dropping so more restrictions can be eased over time, just as Alberta’s government will continue applying pressure on Ottawa to catch up on vaccine supply,” stated Kenney.
A decision on Step 3 of the Path Forward Plan will be made after at least three weeks of evaluation to assess the spread of COVID-19. Metrics based on cases and growth, including variant cases, are being monitored and will also be used to guide any decisions around the need to pause further steps or potentially increase restrictions.
As far as new cases of Covid-19, there were 291 cases on February 29. There were 4,674 active cases and 127,233 recovered cases. There were 257 people in hospital and 48 people in ICU. There have been 1,888 deaths.
As of February 28 a total of 235,508 vaccine doses had been administered.
In Smoky Lake County there were 714 cases, 142 active cases, 562 recovered cases and 9 deaths. In Vegreville/Minburn County there were 147 cases, 0 active cases, 143 recovered cases and 4 deaths. In Two Hills County there were 110 cases, 1 active case, 107 recovered cases and 2 deaths. In Lamont County there were 86 cases, 1 active case, 85 recovered cases, and 0 deaths. In Tofield (Beaver County West) there were 95 cases, 1 active case, 93 recovered cases, and 1 death. In Viking (Beaver County East) there were 90 cases, 0 active cases, 89 recovered cases and 1 death.
