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More than 40 per cent of eligible Albertans have now had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 72.7 per cent have had one, two days before the province is set to lift nearly all health restrictions.
Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, in her final regularly scheduled COVID-19 update Tuesday afternoon, said the province’s numbers are trending in the right direction. But she asked Albertans to be intentional about weighing the risks and benefits of resuming different activities as most mandatory health measures are removed.
“It remains a potentially serious illness that we must keep respecting. As we move into Stage 3 we will continue to offer testing to everyone who has symptoms as we monitor the impact of changes,” she said.
“The worst (of the pandemic) has ended. We’re still in a transition period, and so I think the best thing we can do … is to support each other as we move through that space at our own pace.”
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New, active, and serious cases of COVID-19 have fallen rapidly over the last month. Fewer than 100 new cases have been reported every day since last Monday.
Alberta reported just 61 new cases after 1.6 per cent positive tests on Tuesday, and 170 were in hospital including 36 in ICU. Hinshaw said some rules are staying in place to protect those most at risk. Masking will still be required in acute care and some other health facilities, on transit and in taxis on July 1.
People still need to support each other, Hinshaw said, by “making safe choices when we enter Stage 3, not because there was an order directing us, but because it is the right thing to do.”
That includes staying home when sick and getting tested, she said. Alberta Health Services will continue tracing new cases, screening for variants, and other steps as needed.
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The last 16 months have been a difficult and polarizing time, Hinshaw said.
“It has challenged all of us in ways that we never could have expected, but it has also made clear one indisputable fact: we are stronger and safer together,” she said. “Please keep supporting each other in the days ahead, that means getting vaccinated as soon as you can, and helping to combat vaccine misinformation.”
Albertans waiting for an AstraZeneca vaccine are asked to move up their appointments if possible as 4,532 doses will expire July 1.
Guidance for kids
As restrictions lift, parents will need to weigh the risks and benefits of different activities themselves, and take a more holistic approach to deciding what’s best for their children, Hinshaw said.
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Canada hasn’t approved any COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 12 so they won’t have immunity, but this group is also less likely to get seriously ill from the disease or pass it on, Hinshaw said.
“Ultimately, again, each family is going to need to navigate those kinds of situations to determine the kinds of risks that are appropriate for their context,” she said.
Choosing outdoor instead of indoor activities, avoiding crowded places, and limiting the number of close contacts people have are some ways to mitigate risks, she said.
Families can also and make sure all the adults and older children are vaccinated.
For her, Hinshaw said she may wait several weeks before visiting family if her kids have spent time with a new group of people.
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Travel tips
Getting vaccinated before travelling is strongly recommended, Hinshaw said.
Albertans wishing to visit other provinces or travel out of the country should be aware of restrictions at their destination, like quarantine and vaccination rules, and they should use the same types of precautions as they would at home, Hinshaw said.
B.C. will begin allowing vacationers from outside the province on July 1.
More vaccine lottery prizes
New sports prizes were added to Alberta’s vaccination lottery on Tuesday.
Winnings include VIP and group prize packages for the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders games, a pair of season tickets for the Elks or Stampeders, Battle of Alberta tickets, and a golf package for four people at Kananaskis Country Golf Course.
COVID-19: More than 40 per cent of eligible Albertans fully immunized; 61 new cases announced Tuesday - Edmonton Journal
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