Thread by @CMOH_Alberta

Here is a summary of today’s #COVID19AB update: First a clarification: Physical activity is critical for the overall health & well-being of youth, & necessary to daily living, so youth sports & recreation activities are not part of the Restrictions Exemption Program. (1/10)

Some facilities are requiring proof of vaccine for ABs <18. Operators can set rules that exceed min CMOH order requirements & I clearly support vaccine protection, but encourage facility operators to let youth <18 use your facilities w/other COVID precautions in place. (2/10)

Masking is mandatory in all indoor public spaces across AB, even in businesses that have implemented the Restrictions Exemption Program. Get vaccinated & continue to follow the health measures so we can drive cases down & stop the current spike in hospitalizations. (3/10)

Over the last 24hrs, we have identified 1,519 new cases of COVID-19 and completed about 13.6K tests. Our positivity rate is at 11.1%. We have ID’d 2,011 additional VoC cases in the last 24hrs. There are 996 people in hospital being treated for COVID-19, incl 222 in ICU. (4/10)

Sadly, 29 deaths were reported in the last 24hrs. Some of these ppl were 2X vaccinated & had compromised immune systems. Most were unvaccinated. Our actions every day are literally a matter of life and death. My deepest sympathies go out to everyone who is grieving a loss. (5/10)

We are aligning our approach to 3rd dose eligibility w/recent NACI recommendations to incl ppl undergoing CAR-T therapy, using high-dose steroids & other immunosuppressant drugs, w/Stage 3 or adv HIV infection & those w/genetic immunodeficiency syndromes. (6/10)

Some ppl remain vulnerable & to help protect them, all of us can do our part by getting our two doses. Individuals who have these health conditions and seniors in congregate care are the only groups to whom we are offering third doses or booster shots for clinical reasons. (7/10)

I know many parents are wondering when vaccines will be avail for kids under 12. Global studies are underway looking into whether we can offer COVID vaccines to ages 5-12. We will not offer vaccine to this age group until these studies are completed & evaluated. (8/10)

Our goal is to vaccinate as many Albertans as possible, as safely as possible. We will move quickly to offer vaccine to additional age groups if it is approved by Health Canada & recommended by NACI. Until then, we all need to protect younger children. (9/10)

We all must do our part now by getting vaccinated if you haven’t already & reducing the spread of COVID-19 by limiting contact w/ppl outside your household as much as possible. These measures work, but it takes all of us making safe choices every day, in everything we do. (10/10)