Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

COVID-19 UPDATE

Mass gathering restrictions apply to all summer events: Hinshaw

Apr 23, 2020 | 4:18 PM

Alberta’s chief medical officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, announced during her daily COVID-19 update Thursday that the province would be enforcing its social distancing mandates on all mass gatherings, which includes all summer festivals and events for 2020. Dr. Hinshaw clarified that gatherings of no more than 15 people will be the provincial standard for the “foreseeable future”.

“Albertans are prohibited from attending any event that would violate these orders,” said Dr. Hinshaw. “I know summer festivals and events are incredibly important for many people.”

“This decision was not made lightly. But we must do everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

She adds many event organizers have already made the decision to cancel this year’s events. It was announced just minutes before Dr. Hinshaw took to the podium Thursday that the Calgary Stampede was cancelled for the first time in its history. Earlier this month, organizers for the Grande Prairie Stompede also cancelled for this year.

Other events like the Bear Creek Folk Festival have also been put off for this year.

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“By providing this clarification now, I hope that organizers will be able to provide advance notice, to help them limit unreasonable expenditures and cancel contracts in a timely manner.”

Dr. Hinshaw also urged against planning travel to summer homes, to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

As for the COVID-19 update Thursday, the North Zone added four new cases of COVID-19, as the province saw its largest daily increase in new cases for the second straight day as there were 319 new cases identified across Alberta to bring the total number of confirmed cases to 3,720.

Two fatalities were reported on Thursday, both of which are tied to the outbreak at the JBS meat packing facility in Brooks. 68 Albertans have now died from COVID-19 as of April 23,

No deaths were reported in the North Zone Thursday. 14 people in the North have died from the novel coronavirus as of April 23.

Updated cases totals in Peace region municipalities as of April 23 can be found below:

• City of Grande Prairie: Two cases (Both recovered)
• County of Grande Prairie: Five cases (Four active, one recovered)
• M.D. of Greenview: Two cases (One active, one recovered)
• M.D. of Smoky River: 51 cases (17 active, 24 recovered, ten deaths)
• Big Lakes County: 22 cases (Five active, 15 recovered, two deaths)
• M.D. of Lesser Slave River: Five cases (One active, four recovered)
• Northern Sunrise County: Three cases (All recovered)
• M.D. of Peace: Seven cases (One active, six recovered)
• Clear Hills County: One case (Fatal)
• County of Northern Lights: One case (Recovered)
• Mackenzie County: 11 cases (Ten active, one recovered)

72 Albertans are in hospital at this time while 18 are in Intensive Care.

1,357 Albertans have now recovered from COVID-19. 112,162 Albertans have received a test for COVID-19, 9,106 of those have been completed for Northern Alberta residents.