By Chris Brown

top doc confident

Hinshaw believes schools are safe, return planned for next week

May 18, 2021 | 4:29 PM

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says declining new daily case numbers suggest the public health measures put in place in early May are working.

But she maintains the province is not out of the woods just yet with some of the measures set to be lifted after the long weekend.

“There is still more to do and we have a long way to go,” said the chief medical officer of health.

Students are set to resume in-person learning on May 25, and Hinshaw says she feels safe about her own kids returning to school.

“I don’t believe there to be a public health risk in bringing children back to school,” noting the move to online learning two weeks ago was based not on a public health driver but on the operational considerations of the health system.

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Hinshaw said there is potential for another surge in cases if reopening happens too quickly.

“But as long as we are able to continue to have our numbers dropping and our immunization rates rising, we will reach a point where those two numbers will be able to be protective of the community,” she said.

Those discussions will take place over the next few weeks as a reopening framework is planned.

Alberta has administered 2,217,446 of vaccine at the latest update.

Hinshaw said second immunization doses can be booked by severely compromised Albertans three to four weeks after the first dose by calling 811. All other Albertans can get their second dose about three to four months after their first dose.

“First doses provide good protection and delaying the second dose is allowing us to vaccinate the province as quickly as possible which helps protect all of us by further reducing the spread,” said Hinshaw.

She added that more than 50 per cent of Albertans over the age of 12 have gotten at least one dose.

She also reiterated that vaccines are safe and effective.

“They help prevent transmission and strongly protect against severe outcomes,” Hinshaw said.