Thread by @KevinCTV

We're expecting to hear from Dr. Hinshaw and Premier Kenney at 3:30 p.m. today. I'll be live Tweeting the highlights below.

edmonton.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-in-al…

And we're off. Premier Kenney begins by calling the reopening plan "safe and cautious."

"This is Alberta's response to the science of vaccines," Kenney says.

Kenney says there 566,000 vaccine appointments booked over the next 30 days. Recently, about 4% of appointments have resulted in no-shows.

"The most compassionate thing you can do is go and get signed up," Kenney says.

NEW: People on dialysis treatment for Kidney Disease can now get their second dose of vaccine 21-28 days after their first. Call 8-1-1 to book an appointment

Dr. Hinshaw says a second dose plan for Alberta is coming early next week.

Dr. Hinshaw is explaining why she wasn't at the reopening announcement yesterday. She says she had the day booked off to spend with her kids, who had a PD day from school.

Hinshaw says she supports the reopening plan and was consulted in its development.

"We focus on first doses because that is the most immediate target we need to reach," Dr. Hinshaw says.

Dr. Hinshaw says Alberta will soon be in the position to shorten the wait times between first and second doses.

Dr. Hinshaw is comparing this year's Calgary Stampede to that of 2013. She says just like Albertans banded together to host the event following the flood, they will do so this year.

Q from @JWongGlobalNews: How does the two week gap between stages of reopening make sense from a scientific perspective?

A: Dr. Hinshaw says vaccines are effective after two weeks.

Follow up: If appointments are available right now, why not use them for second doses?

A: Most available appointments are for next week. The government wants to make sure everyone who wants a first dose can get one.

Q from @Jeffslack660: Even if we get to 70% vaccinated on first dose, is there still a risk people will end up in the hospital?

A: COVID-19 will not be eliminated. Dr. Hinshaw says it will be like the flu, with some still getting sick, but hospitals won't be overwhelmed.

Follow up: could the Calgary Stampede become a super spreader event?

A: Possibly, but Dr. Hinshaw says the Stampede has safety plans to "mitigate the potential of super spreader events."

Q from @sunrickbell: what do you say to people who say this plan is horrible?

A: Kenney says the advocates of "so-called COVID zero" are willing to inflict "endless damage" on our society. Kenney says we'll never be able to eliminate the risk of COVID.

Kenney says there is an "alliance" between anti-vaxers/anti-restriction people and COVID-zero advocates to attack the government's reopening plan.

Follow up: what kind of support do you think you have from Albertans for this plan?

A: "I think there is broad support for the plan that was announced yesterday," Kenney says, citing some polling.

Question from @Jantafrench: A federal panel says Canada should end the federal hotel quarantine program. What do you think?

A: Dr. Hinshaw says more people being vaccinated makes travel safer. She says she supports changing policy based on evidence.

Q: Do you stand by calling the NDP the anti-vax party?

A: Kenney says the NDP want to keep Alberta in a lockdown until September. He says they are understating the protective effects of the vaccines.

Q: Some doctors say the reopening plan could lead to a surge in variant cases. Will Alberta return to screening all positive cases for variants?

A: Dr. Hinshaw says her team hasn't decided how it will screen variants going forward.

Q: Could we see rural walk-in vaccination clinics?

A: Kenney says a plan is being developed to do something like that in communities that aren't as vaccinated.