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By Troy Gillard

chief medical officer to speak

Hinshaw to provide COVID-19 update, clarify school physical distancing order

Aug 31, 2020 | 3:20 PM

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health will be under the microscope when she gives her latest update on the COVID-19 situation in the province.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw will speak during a news conference scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31. You can watch the news conference live below once it begins.

In addition to sharing the latest numbers when it comes to cases, deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19, Hinshaw is expected to clarify Alberta’s return to school plan after she signed an order over the weekend lifting a mandate requiring physical distancing in classrooms when students return to school.

The order states that “an operator of a school does not need to ensure that students, staff members and visitors are able to maintain a minimum of two metres distance from every other when students, staff or students are seated at a desk or table.”

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The decision applies to classrooms and other instructional settings where seats are arranged to prevent students from facing one another.

Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, says the move contradicts what the province has been saying for months.

Alberta recorded 158 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths as of Friday. There were 44 people in hospital with COVID-19 with seven of them in intensive care.

The total number of active cases across the province as of Friday was 1,185, including five in Red Deer.

(With file from The Canadian Press)