By Troy Gillard

vocal and wind instrument performances can resume

Small concerts back on stage, Red Deer sheds another active COVID-19 case

Sep 11, 2020 | 3:57 PM

Albertans can raise their voice in song and a small bit of celebration this weekend.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced on Friday that vocal and wind instrument concerts can resume in Alberta.

Public health guidelines in the early days of the pandemic placed severe limits on them, as evidence indicated they may pose unique risks of transmitting COVID-19.

“We have seen emerging evidence that these activities can be done safely if rigorous and proper precautions are in place,” said the province’s chief medical officer of health.

She said updated guidelines are now posted online that allow limited band practices, singing and wind instrument concerts to occur provided distancing, enhanced cleaning and other precautions are implemented.

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“The arts play an important role and in schools and in our emotional well-being and the restrictions have been hard for many,” said Hinshaw.

Choirs may begin again with maximum size limits and masking while singing. Audience singing is still not allowed and congregational singing in faith settings is still discouraged.

Hinshaw stressed that gathering limits have not changed and dance floors are still not allowed, “as we cannot safely mitigate the risk of exposure with these activities.”

There are 29 schools in the province when cases attended while infectious, and 32 cases are linked to these schools.

There remains three schools – Calgary’s Henry Wise High School and St. Wilfred Elementary School and Chinook High School in Lethbridge – with outbreaks.

Alberta is reporting an additional 111 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday to bring the overall total to 15,415.

The province completed 11,979 tests for the virus over the past 24 hours.

Alberta has 1,444 active cases, a decrease of 50.

There are currently 41 Albertans in hospital because of the virus, a decrease of two, including six who are intensive care.

No new deaths related to the virus are being reported, leaving Alberta’s total at 253.

In the Central Zone the number of active cases remains unchanged at 45, while recoveries are up to 579, an increase of two.

Red Deer has seen two more recoveries from COVID-19 for a total of 80, while the number of active cases in the city now sits at 16.

Sylvan Lake remains with six active cases, Lacombe County has eight and the city of Lacombe has one. There are no other active cases in the Red Deer area as of Friday’s report.

The interactive map showing the locations of all COVID-19 cases in Alberta can be found here.

(With file from The Canadian Press)