Thread by @meksmith

A COVID-related update with Mayor Nenshi, CEMA Chief Sue Henry and CPS Deputy Chief Chad Tawfik is starting momentarily... #yyccc

Nenshi says he has "some not-great news" and he'll be highlighting the need for personal responsibility and discipline as the pandemic continues. #yyccc

Nenshi says he'll be telling some personal stories. One of his friends, younger than him (49) got her first shot but contracted COVID before developing any immune protection and is currently in an induced coma in the ICU. #yyccc

Nenshi says he'll be telling some personal stories. One of his friends, younger than him (49) got her first shot but contracted COVID before developing any immune protection and is currently in an induced coma in the ICU. #yyccc

Nenshi: "I know it's frustrating when you see those maskless idiots and their protests ... I know for many Calgarians, this doesn't feel real." #yyccc

Nenshi: "These variants are transmissible, they're scary, and they're going far." He's now showing a few charts to illustrate the situation. #yyccc

Here's a look at Calgary's active COVID-19 cases. "This third wave is much worse than the second wave," Nenshi says. #yyccc

Nenshi: "We're staring down the barrel here, folks. ... I don't want to scare people, but I want to tell you that when the health-care system collapses, it collapses fast." #yyccc #COVID19AB

Nenshi says Calgary's hospitalizations due to COVID are already higher than the peak of the second wave. #yyccc #COVID19AB

Nenshi stresses the need to get vaccinated as soon as you're eligible. Alberta rolled out additional eligibility criteria today, and anyone in phase 2C or 2D will be able to book shots as of Friday.

Nenshi says we can get through this, and people need to keep doing everything that has been stressed over the last year — keeping physical distance, washing your hands, wearing a mask, staying home if you're sick, and now getting vaccinated asap.

CPS Deputy Chief Chad Tawfik up now to talk about enforcement. He says police are anticipating another weekend of anti-mask protests, and he wants to "provide context" about why enforcement is not as simple as some think. #yyccc

Tawfik: "We are also extremely frustrated with the blatant violations of the orders. Our officers have been yelled at ... they and their families have been targeted. This is not OK, but these (officers) continue to show up, striving to keep our communities safe." #yyccc

Tawfik says CPS is working with the province to address any gaps in the enforcement system. The goal is for people to comply with public-health orders. "We continue to focus efforts on those who are repeat offenders, and organizers of some of these events." #yyccc

CEMA Chief Sue Henry is up now. Reminds us that Calgary is still in a state of local emergency — it has been for months now. #yyccc

Henry says a new temporary testing site will be set up in NE Calgary. There's also work underway for a rapid testing program, I'm not totally clear on what that's for but it sounded to me like it would be for City of Calgary employees in "critical services." #yyccc

Nenshi urges people not to play the "blame game" and instead focus on what each individual can do to protect themselves and the people around them. #yyccc

Nenshi says there has been "some spread" of COVID on patios. "Not a lot, but some." He urges people to go out only with members of their own household, which is what the rules call for. #yyccc