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By Troy Gillard

As COVID-19 cases continues to rise…

Province yet to recommend Red Deer mandate face coverings

Nov 3, 2020 | 8:24 PM

Though Red Deer continues to see a steady rise in COVID-19 cases, city officials say the province has yet to request additional public health measures, such as a face coverings bylaw, at this time.

Red Deer has 60 active cases as of Tuesday and is now under a provincial COVID-19 Watch. Communities are placed on the watch list when they reach at least 10 active cases and more than 50 active cases per 100,000 (Red Deer is at 56.6).

“We are reminded that no community or 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 Tuesday in a statement.

A COVID-19 Watch means the province is monitoring the risk and discussing with local government and other community leaders the possible need for additional health measures. That hasn’t happened with Red Deer as of Tuesday.

When city council made the wearing of face coverings mandatory for Red Deer Transit riders in August,they tabled a bylaw mandating them for public places in the city “pending direction from Alberta Health Services with concerns about the number of active COVID-19 cases in the city of Red Deer.”

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“The City was in communication with provincial health officials today, and there are currently no additional provincially mandated or requested additional restrictions in place because of the watch status at this time,” Veer noted. “Council and The City’s Emergency Operations Centre are closely monitoring the situation, and will be responding to public health guidelines as necessary to determine what additional local measures may need to be taken in the coming days and weeks to limit the spread of COVID-19.”

City Manager Allan Seabrooke said it’s a fluid situation that city officials will continue to monitor on a daily basis.

“We have been, and will remain in close contact with Alberta Health officials, and will assess the need for additional safety measures in our community,” he said, “which may include, but not limited to, enhancements to our existing face covering bylaw, tightening restrictions at City facilities or any other gathering restrictions mandated by Alberta Health.”

“We, as a community, need to remain steadfast in our local resolve to stop the spread of COVID-19. I urge all Red Deerians to continue to follow the advice of Alberta Health, now more than ever,” said Veer. “We need to continue to take personal precautions to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by practicing physical distancing, washing and sanitizing hands often, staying home when sick, wearing a face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, and limiting the number of people we share close contact with.”

Alberta recorded another 2,268 cases of COVID-19 over the past four days for an average of 567 cases per day.

City officials say they will continue to update the community on their ongoing discussions with Alberta Health.

(With file from media release)