Despite decreased hospitalizations and ICU admissions, the provincial government announced on Monday, March 22 they would not be moving into Step 3 of the phased reopening plan.
Alberta’s Minister of Health Tyler Shandro joined Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw during the regular COVID-19 update to make the announcement restrictions will remain in place for places of worship, adult and team sports, movie theatres, museums, art galleries, casinos and bingo halls, and private indoor social gatherings.
“This is a significant step that would touch every part of our province; it would also create new opportunities for the virus to spread in our communities,” Minister Shandro said during the update.
Although hospitalizations are below 300, the number of hospitalizations have risen recently. Minister Shandro reiterated the province would only be able to move forward into Step 3 when hospitalizations are below 300 and “on a clear downward trajectory.” He notes hospitalizations are projected to rise above 300 in the coming days, calling it “irresponsible” and “unfair” to ease restrictions at this time to reinstate them “in a few days’ time”.
“Vaccinations are the path out of the pandemic,” Minister Shandro stated.
As of Monday, March 22 more than 93,000 eligible Albertans-including 10,625 from the Central Health Zone, which includes Drumheller, according to a representative from Alberta Health Services-have been fully immunized with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
More than 487,000 doses have been administered across the province; this number does not include those doses administered at the more than 250 pharmacies across the province which were given the green light to administer the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine starting on Monday, March 15.
Local pharmacy Riverside Value Drug Mart was one of the eligible pharmacies and administered 300 doses of the Moderna vaccine. However, manager Martina Morrison told the Mail, “We are currently waiting on resupply at this time due to federal government shortages.”
Case numbers are on a slow decline following a surge which saw active cases surpass previous highs from November 2020 and prompted members from the Canadian Red Cross to attend the Drumheller Institution to assist with an outbreak among inmates.
Although cases are on the decline, the Town of Drumheller currently has the third highest active case rate per 100,000 population across the province, behind Mackenzie County and Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17.
As of Monday, March 22 there are 61 active cases and 291 recovered cases for the Town of Drumheller; this includes 13 active and 150 recovered cases at the Drumheller Institution. There is also one active case in Wheatland County, four in Kneehill County, and six in Starland County.
