Council to hear COVID-19 briefing, set special meeting discussing additional measures

The latest available numbers show Red Deer with 63 active cases of COVID-19.

“Council continues to receive emails from citizens on this very controversial subject, and as cases rise, it is an issue that citizens are asking council to debate,” says Councillor Dianne Wyntjes, who requested earlier this week that Seabrooke provide council with an update.

“Let us think about the health of our community, people with challenging health conditions, and also the economic health of our community. It’s one thing we can do to protect the people on the front line, so in stores, in the hospital, and people who are having hospital procedures cancelled.”

Wyntjes says because this is a health issue, the health ministry should have taken the initiative to implement measures throughout the province, so as people move from one municipality to another, they know where there are or aren’t certain rules.

Most of the city’s active cases may not be in hospital, and cases in Edmonton and Calgary may be booming despite masks being mandatory, but Councillor Ken Johnston says that doesn’t mean things can’t change.

“Dr. [Deena] Hinshaw said Thursday there were 800 cases in Alberta in a single day, and yes there aren’t that many in hospital, but exponentially, as these cases grow, there will be,” Johnston says. “That’s the point people are missing. How many cases per day will it take? Can you imagine 800 being our new norm? It blows the mind.”

Johnston applauds businesses who’ve already made face coverings mandatory, adding that they should be a tool in the toolbox that more utilize going forward.

“We have to realize that we’re all mortal and we’re all subject to this virus. God forbid a young woman or man picks it up at school or at a party, then takes a visit to grandma’s house,” he says. “If we can agree on one thing, it’s the preservation of our hospital system. That’s really what it comes down to. We’re a in a flu season, we’ve got people with medical complications that the hospital is designed to deal with, and now we might pile in people with COVID.”

Seabrooke says he last spoke with Alberta Health Services on Tuesday when the The City was told it would be put on watch status.

To date, the City has not been advised by the chief medical officer of health to implement mandatory face coverings.

Seabrooke says his briefing on Monday will consist of updates on where the city stands in terms of cases, commentary on discussions had with AHS, and a general update on the state of the local situation.

“The local ‘watch’ status, and the rising number of cases in our community and across the province, is a reminder that no region is immune to this virus, and we need to continue to be extremely diligent in ensuring we limit community spread,” Mayor Tara Veer said a statement late Friday afternoon.

Veer said restrictions may include, but not be limited to changes to the face coverings bylaw and tightening restrictions at City facilities.

Monday’s council meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. and can be viewed online at www.meeting.reddeer.ca.

by Josh Hall

Council to hear COVID-19 briefing, set special meeting discussing additional measures

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