By Canadian Press

"staggering financial cost" from first wave

Alberta can’t afford second wave of COVID-19: Kenney

May 27, 2020 | 4:06 PM

EDMONTON – Premier Jason Kenney says Alberta has been among the world leaders in reducing the spread of COVID-19, but it has come at a staggering financial cost that the province cannot afford to repeat should there be a second wave.

There have been 139 deaths due to COVID-19 in Alberta.

In a speech to the legislature, Kenney called it a sobering statistic, but he noted that the average age of COVID-19 deaths in Alberta is 83 and that the death rate for young people is on par with other illnesses.

He says given those numbers, the province must focus on protecting older people and those with underlying conditions while preventing a second wholesale shutdown of the economy.

He says this year’s budget deficit could soar to 20-billion-dollars.

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Opposition Leader Rachel Notley says to avoid a second wave of the virus Kenney’s government must do better.

Notley says the province was too slow to put protections in place for continuing care centres and meat-packing plants, which have experienced large outbreaks.