Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the day when Alberta can begin easing some COVID-19 public health restrictions.

By Troy Gillard

11:30 a.m. NEWS CONFERENCE

Alberta to announce plan for ‘safely easing’ restrictions

May 25, 2021 | 4:41 PM

On Wednesday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will provide an update on COVID-19 and the province’s strategy for “safely easing public health restrictions.”

Kenney will be joined by Health Minister Tyler Shandro and Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, at a news conference slated for 11:30 a.m.

The announcement of the news conference came after Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said on Tuesday that Alberta’s numbers show the latest public health measures announced three weeks ago are working and the day when the province can ease restrictions is coming.

“We have seen a steady decline in new cases across the province, which is helping bring our active case count down as well,” Hinshaw said. “Active cases have declined 52 per cent from their peak earlier this month. We are now seeing promising declines in hospitalization numbers and although it has rebounded a little bit in the last few days, we have started seeing our positivity rate decline as well.”

Hinshaw also said the reproductive for the past week in Alberta was 0.67, down from 0.84 the week before.

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“With cases declining and more vaccines being delivered every day, we are rapidly approaching a point where we can safely begin to ease measures. It’s close and getting closer every day,” she noted.

Hinshaw also called Albertans’ uptake on vaccines remarkable, and said “the more people who get immunized, the more successful we will be at preventing waves in the future.”

She added the province is looking at ways to reduce the current 16-week timing for second doses and when we can begin to shorten that window based on incoming supply. She said she hopes to have an update on that soon.

The province is also looking at more ways to reach key groups that may be having trouble accessing vaccines.

(With file from Chris Brown – CHATNews Today)