Mayor Bill Given says Grande prairie residents need to do what they can to protect the local health-care system, as to avoid overflowing the QEII's capacity

By Shaun Penner

"The new numbers have to be a wake-up call"

Given imploring Grande Prairie residents to follow new health measures to curb COVID-19 case climb

Nov 12, 2020 | 6:53 PM

Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given says residents of the Swan City need to take heed of the new public health measures implemented by the province, and do what they can to protect the health system in the Grande Prairie area and those who are the most vulnerable.

Given responded to Thursday’s announcement of new restrictions placed on the City of Grande Prairie by the provincial government, which included a ban on group fitness activities and team sports, as well as on singing and theatre group activities, among others.

RELATED: New public health measures announced for City of Grande Prairie

He says it is a stern reminder that COVID-19 is still a serious threat, and the community must act now.

“The new numbers have to be a wake-up call. They obviously were for the province, and they should be for all of us here in our community,” said Given.

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He pointed to the fact that Alberta reported its highest daily death count on Wednesday, as 10 more Albertans were reported to have died from COVID-19 related illness, which followed the announcement of seven deaths on Tuesday.

“(That) should give everyone pause and it should be a moment for us to reflect that each one of those numbers was a person who was a parent, a husband, a wife, a grandparent,” said Given. “We shouldn’t get accustomed to just seeing these numbers climb.”

“It is time for us to take the voluntary measures that the province is putting forward and really incorporate them in our day-to-day lives.”

Given adds he feels it is time for everyone in the community to reflect on what is most important to them.

“I know that we all want to protect our families and loved ones. We want to protect our friends and neighbours, and the best way to do that right now is to limit the number of people you interact with,” said Given.

“Now is a great time for family movie night, family game night, at home with your immediate family.”

The City of Grande Prairie has 88 active cases of COVID-19 as of November 11 and has an active case rate of 119.4 per 100,000 people. Though that rate is about half of what the cities of Edmonton and Calgary and experiencing, Given suggests we must act now to avoid seeing a similar case rate and the issues and strains that those high numbers come with.

“We all have the ability to have an impact on changing that curve. But it does mean that we have to change our behaviors, and I would call on all Grande Prairie residents to take these new restrictions as their clear sign, that we all must change our behaviors immediately.”

READ MORE: COVID-19 related fatality reported in County of Grande Prairie

Specifically, in Edmonton, hospitalizations have become a point of great concern, with 124 people now in hospital in that Zone, with 28 of those individuals in an ICU. Health Minister Tyler Shandro pointed out that that is 103 per cent of the Edmonton Zone’s ICU capacity.

Though the North Zone’s hospitalizations have remained relatively low to this point, Given says we don’t have the same amount of capacity to utilize, so curbing the case climb now is crucial to protect the local health-care system.

“Here in the Grande Prairie area, we may not have been directly impacted, yet, but we also have much more limited capacity at the QEII hospital,” said Given. “And that hospital needs to serve as a resource for all of Northwest Alberta.”

Given adds he knows these measures and the changes that come with them are a burden to many, but he points out that the province is quite blunt with its messaging with these orders, in that they are the last stop before much tougher restrictions that could see businesses close and schools shuttered.

“The province could not be anymore clear than they are today… they say this is our last chance to avoid more restrictive measures, and I don’t think the province could be any more clear about what the consequence will be of increasing case numbers, and of residents choosing not to follow these measures.”