Thread by @StaySaif

Speaking to docs, nurses & health experts, #Alberta's CMOH Deena Hinshaw admits she lulled the province into a false sense of security, saying she shouldn't have claimed COVID was over in July... Apologizing. #COVID19AB #yyc #yeg #abpoli #ableg Full vid:

"I feel very responsible for the narrative that has made it more complicated to put additional health measures in place," Hinshaw says. "Whether or not it was my intention, what was heard at the end of July was COVID is over, we can walk away and ignore it."
#COVID19AB #yyc #yeg

"That has had repercussions and I deeply regret how that has played out," she adds. "Obviously Alberta is in a significant crisis state right now, there's no dancing around that but I think it's very important to remember, Delta caught a bunch of us unaware." #COVID19AB #yyc #yeg

"We've had a huge amount of cases already, we're still going to see a lot of cases even as we come down the other side. So, there is still, unfortunately, quite a while yet before we're going to be through this particular wave," Hinshaw explains. #COVID19AB #yyc #yeg #abpoli

"Just when we think we understand COVID, it takes another turn. That's something we need to be mindful of," Hinshaw adds. And despite saying we were in an endemic months ago, she now says "I don't know when we're going to get to a true endemic state." #COVID19AB #yyc #yeg #abpoli

Hinshaw also says she shouldn't have recommended taking away contact tracing. Adds, in hindsight, it's hard to get everyone back & re-establish after they/it's gone. She apologizes for her part in saying COVID is over, reiterates that it isn't. #COVID19AB #yyc #yeg #abpoli #ableg

When asked about vaxx passports & shown shots in BC went up when introduced, Hinshaw says "I think it's pretty clear that requirements, especially for discretionary activities, can have an impact on those age groups where we most need right now to increase our uptake." #COVID19AB

TL;DR: Hinshaw says it's still a pandemic not endemic, 4th wave is deadly, she shouldn't have claimed #COVID19 was over, Delta spread is surprising, contact tracers are important, vax passports work, there's a significant crisis & she's not sure when it'll end.#Alberta #COVID19AB