Operator just told us the call will be taking place "shortly." The waiting continues...
Kenney starts by saying yesterday's meeting was 8 hours long.
There is no one single way through this pandemic, Kenney says.
Kenney says he previously resisted calls for a lockdown because of the profound damage it would cause, throwing people out of work and deepening a mental health crisis.
There have been 16 new deaths in the province from #COVID19.
He says #AB's policy is based partly on protecting the vulnerable while minimizing damage to broader social health.
Kenney is declaring a state of public health emergency in #AB.
The new restrictions will be mandatory, he says.
Effective immediately, no indoor social gatherings will be permitted in any setting. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people.
Weddings and funerals to have 10 person maximum.
Kenney says the province will enforce these new rules and those who break them will be subject to fines.
For places of worship, attendance is capped at 1/3 capacity and masking is required.
Restrictions will be in place for 3 weeks and re-evaluated in mid-December.
Effective Friday, the province is closing some businesses for in-person businesses, such as conference centres and concert venues. (I do believe concert venues have already been shuttered)
Retail businesses and services can remain open but will be restricted to 25% capacity.
Others will be restricted to appointment only, such as hair salons and hotels.
All workers who can work from home should do so, Kenney says.
Changes in schooling:
-on Nov 30 all students in grade 7-12 will end in-person schooling for the rest of 2020
-on Dec 18, all students will begin their winter break
-in-person learning in the New Year will be delayed until Jan 11, 2021
-on Nov 30 all students in grade 7-12 will end in-person schooling for the rest of 2020
-on Dec 18, all students will begin their winter break
-in-person learning in the New Year will be delayed until Jan 11, 2021
Kenney says restrictions are tough and each new measure pushes people into debt, more families closer to bankruptcy.
Kenney says they're doing this now so we can see where we are at before Christmas.
If there's a significant drop, we may be able to ease them, Kenney says. If not, more drastic measures could be taken.
Shandro essentially repeating the new measures. Dining in restaurants and bars can continue but tables must be limited to those in the same household.
Receptions not allowed for weddings or funerals, Shandro says.
Sports must stop unless they are granted an exemption, Shandro says.
No more table games at casinos, he adds.
The businesses that fall under this new 25% capacity measure include movie theatres, galleries, bingo halls, amusement parks, waterparks.
Shandro says diploma exams are optional for the rest of the school year.
There is SO MUCH information. Here's a link that may be helpful: alberta.ca/enhanced-publi…
Shandro says he believes the new measures strike the right balance and that they need people to change their behaviour.
New numbers:
-1115 new cases
-about 13k tests
-provincial positivity rate: 8.3%
-348 in hospital with 66 in ICU
-16 new deaths
-1115 new cases
-about 13k tests
-provincial positivity rate: 8.3%
-348 in hospital with 66 in ICU
-16 new deaths
Is today's announcement an acknowledgement #AB's strategy has failed? Kenney says #AB's response has been effective the past nine months, though significant increase the past few weeks.
Kenney says #AB is trying to bend the curve, #AB is not involved in a chase after zero. He says the broader consequences of more stringent measures would be intolerable.
How are you going to enforce indoor social gatherings? Kenney says #AB will not be setting up a snitch line. He says they will expand the number of enforcement officers.
What are the parameters for mid-Dec? Kenney says R value needs to be below 1. He says #yeg is around 1.3 and #yyc is around 1.1.
Indoor social gatherings can't happen but restaurants can still be open - how is that not an indoor gathering? Kenney says family eating at home vs eating out, it's a cohort eating together.
How did you arrive at 25% capacity limit for businesses? Kenney says have to do something to limit general and social community transmission.
What specific data, evidence did you look at that shows these measures are effective? (#AB doesn't have good data right now bc of contact tracing issues) Kenney says #AB has 8 months of contact tracing data and there are general learnings from studies, global data.
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