A recent rise in cases has seen the County of Grande Prairie grow to 2 active cases as of July 20 (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

COVID-19 UPDATE

“The results are troubling”: Premier concerned with rise in Alberta COVID-19 cases

Jul 21, 2020 | 4:32 PM

Alberta added 141 new cases of COVID-19 for July 20, which continued a trend that is concerning to the province’s premier.

Tuesday marked the fifth time in the last six days the province added over 100 cases in a 24 hour period, which Jason Kenney believes is a result of too many individuals not following public health guidance.

“Maybe that’s because some people have just become tired of the whole thing, and we can all understand that, or some believe that the threat of COVID-19 is exaggerated. Maybe some young, healthy people aren’t worried about kids getting sick themselves.”

“Whatever the reasons, the results are troubling.”

The City of Grande Prairie added one more case over the last 24 hours, bringing the number of active cases to nine. Two more cases were added in the County of Grande Prairie, while the M.D. of Greenview added one new case.

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Updated case totals among Peace Region municipalities as of the end of day July 20 are as follows:

• City of Grande Prairie: 26 cases (Nine active, 17 recovered)
• County of Grande Prairie: 20 cases (12 active, eight recovered)
• M.D. of Greenview: Three cases (Two active, one recovered)
• Birch Hills County: Two cases (Both active)
• Saddle Hills County: One case (Active)
• M.D. of Smoky River: 72 cases (62 recovered, ten deaths)
• Big Lakes County: 47 cases (42 recovered, five deaths)
• M.D. of Lesser Slave River: Five cases (All recovered)
• M.D. of Peace: Six cases (All recovered)
• M.D. of Fairview: One case (Active)
• M.D. of Spirit River: One case (Active)
• Clear Hills County: 22 cases (12 active, ten recovered)
• Northern Sunrise County: Four cases (All recovered)
• County of Northern Lights: Four cases (Three active, one recovered)
• Mackenzie County: 94 cases (43 active, 50 recovered, one death)

There are now 1,193 active cases of COVID-19 in Alberta, while 8,363 people have recovered. Two more people have died over the last 24 hours, bringing the number of fatalities attributed to COVID-19 in Alberta to 172 as of the end of day July 20.

For reference, just 10 days ago on July 10, active cases sat at 567, while recovered cases sat at 7,914.

There was another uptick in hospitalizations from the day prior, as 93 Albertans are now in hospital, ten of whom are in hospital in northern Alberta. Sixteen people in Alberta are in ICU.

Though the recent rise in cases hasn’t prompted the Premier to look at making masks mandatory, or to put in other restrictive public health measures, he says it is on all Albertans to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

“The last thing we want to have to do is re-impose damaging restrictions on our economy and our freedoms,” said Kenney.

“So let me be blunt. If you think you can socialize with large groups of people in close quarters, knock it off. If you’re young and healthy, remember you can still carry the virus and transmit that virus that ends up killing someone who is old or vulnerable.”

“COVID-19 is not over and it likely won’t be over for months to come. We’ve shown the world how we can limit the spread and save lives in our province through personal responsibility.”

Kenney adds that Albertans should “get back to the basics” when it comes to stopping the spread of COVID-19, including keeping a six foot physical distance from others, wearing a mask when that isn’t possible, staying home when sick and washing and sanitizing hands frequently.