Central Peace Regional Emergency Management
Junction of Highway 49 and Highway 725 T0H 3G0 Spirit River, AB, Canada

Central Peace Numbers Up Birch Hills County: Five cases (two active, three recovered) M.D. of Spirit River: 15 cases (four active, 11 recovered) Saddle Hills County: Three cases (one active, two recovered)

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Central Peace Numbers Up: - Birch Hills County: Five cases (two actives, three recovered) - M.D. of Spirit River: 14 cases (three active, 11 recovered) - Saddle Hills County: Three cases (one active, two recovered)

Update from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw: 97 people are in hospital, including 13 in ICU. Our recent increase is partially linked to o...utbreaks at Foothills Medical Centre and Misericordia hospital. We’re watching to ensure hospitalizations and ICU admissions stay within our capacity. We averaged 240 new cases of COVID-19 per day over the long weekend. Friday, 236 new cases were ID’d & 16K+ tests conducted. Saturday, we ID’d 259 cases with 14K+ tests. We ID’d 246 cases Sunday & conducted almost 16,700 tests & on Mon ID’d 220 cases & completed 11K+ tests. Sadly, there have been 4 deaths since my last update on Thursday. Any death is devastating but can be especially difficult during a holiday like Thanksgiving & is made even harder by the pandemic, when gathering with friends & family is more difficult. My condolences to all. 70 schools that had alerts have had no transmission & students & staff are back in class. 209 schools have active alerts or outbreaks, about 9% of all Alberta schools, with 464 active cases in total. This includes 88 schools with outbreaks, including 21 on the watch list. In-school transmission has likely occurred in 53 schools. Of these, 33 have had only 1 new case occur as result. A rise in cases being ID’d in children aged 5-19 mirrors a rise in cases in the community. We are watching this closely. The more cases & spread in our communities, the more we’ll see it other places. I ask all Albertans, especially in the Edmonton zone, to stay home if sick, keep distanced from those outside your household or cohort, wear masks if you can’t, wash your hands & follow public health measures. Starting tomorrow, AHS assessment centres will move to appointment-only and Albertans can no longer drop in. This will make on-site testing more efficient & reduce crowding, helping ensure everyone is tested quickly & safely. For testing, book online at ahs.ca/COVID or call HealthLink at 811. We are seeing a high no-show rate lately, which causes delays for those who need testing. It is easy & convenient to change or cancel your appointment online, freeing your spot for someone else. Please help us make the system as efficient & effective as possible. Contact tracers are reporting more people are reluctant to provide tracing info when they test positive. Contact tracing is necessary to help prevent onward spread. Please show compassion & work with contact tracers. Remember, getting through this will take our collective efforts. Get COVID-19 updates at http://alberta.ca/COVID19.

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Warm and windy conditions have led to a number of fire bans, restrictions and advisories in effect across the province. Before you head out to Alberta’s forested areas please check albertafirebans.ca to find out more.

Central Peace Numbers Up - Birch Hills - five cases (two active, three recovered) - MD Spirit River - 11 cases (11 recovered) - Saddle Hills County - two cases (one active, one recovered)

Adult Learning Challenges Nothing To Be Ashamed Of Opportunities Exist. People Are Here To Help. With changes in the job market brought on by shifting internati...onal markets, the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, and the ever-increasing use of computers and digital technology, it should be no surprise that one in five adult Albertans face daily literacy and numeracy challenges. https://www.saddlehills.ab.ca//adult-learning-challenges-n See more

Walking away from your kitchen while cooking is the top cause of kitchen fires, and it’s so common that nearly 70% of us have done it!* If you need to dip out ... like to use the bathroom or answer the door turn the stove off. Those few seconds you’re gone are just enough for a fire to start. www.fpw.org #FirePreventionWeek *According to a 2020 national American Red Cross survey.

Update from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw: 77 people are in hospital, including 13 in ICU. We identified 364 new cases of COVID-19, whi...le our lab conducted more than 16,400 tests. AHS has confirmed that staff & students at 55 schools previously on alert are now back in class & off the list. There are active alerts or outbreaks in 170 schools, about 7% of all schools in Alberta. These schools have 370 active cases in total. This number includes 72 schools on outbreaks, including 14 on the watch list. So far, transmission has likely occurred in 27 schools. Of these, 21 have seen only 1 new case occur as a result. Sadly, there have been 2 new deaths, both in patients at the Foothills Medical Centre. These were announced yesterday by AHS. My heartfelt condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to COVID or any other illness during these difficult months. 83 cases are linked to the Foothills outbreak. AHS is identifying potential individuals who may have been exposed. 10 cases are linked to an outbreak in 2 units at the Misericordia Community Hospital. Visitation to the 2 units is restricted but the hospital is safe for patients. Edmonton zone has 1,250 cases. Hospitals can support the current caseload, but it can be 2 weeks before more cases lead to a rise in hospitalization. We must work together to slow the spread & ensure the system can continue supporting Albertans with COVID, influenza & other needs. There are new voluntary public health measures in the Edmonton Zone. Family & private social gatherings should have no more than 15 people max. This doesn’t impact schools or formal gatherings like theatres, worship services or others where COVID guidances are in in place. Masks should be worn in all indoor work settings, except when alone in spaces like cubicles or offices & safely distanced or if there’s an appropriate barrier. And cohorts should be limited to no more than 3: core household, school & 1 other social, sport or other group. We will assess the impact of these recommendations & consider adjustments if necessary. While these voluntary measures focus on the Edmonton zone, we are all in this together & we must all work together to slow the spread & protect our friends, family & loved ones Get COVID-19 updates at http://alberta.ca/COVID19.

COVID-19 is still here. Stay vigilant and remember to wash your hands.

No change in Central Peace numbers since yesterday when one new cases was identified in Saddle Hills County.

New Case Reported In Saddle Hills County Central Peace Numbers: Birch Hills County: Three cases (all recovered) M.D. of Spirit River: 11 cases (all recovered) Saddle Hills County: Two cases (one active, one recovered)