Check against delivery
Thank you for coming.
Premier has gone over the modelling and I won’t restate what he has said. I do want to highlight a few key things with modelling.
As Premier has said modelling is an estimate based on the best known data the time the model is put together.
We will continue to adjust it based on emerging Alberta data and evidence. So you will see this model evolving over time.
The most important factor in how big or small the impact of COVID-19 is on Alberta is the behaviour of each and every one of us.
This cannot be stressed enough.
If Albertans stop following public health restrictions and guidelines, we can expect to experience a higher impact than the data currently suggests.
If Albertans strictly follow all public health guidance, we, collectively, can further reduce the impact from what the modelling is currently predicting.
To the people who might look at the scenarios presented today and think they’re not that bad, I want you to remember that every person who is in hospital, every person who passes away is beloved by family and friends and is a loss.
This is not the time to relax our approach.
To those who look at the numbers and think they are frighteningly high, I say to you we can change the outcome.
Remember that the modelling is giving us the total number of anticipated infections in the whole population, not just the confirmed cases. That makes the numbers higher than what we have seen in other countries who are reporting their confirmed cases.
It is also based on an assumption that every COVID case spreads infection to one or two other people.
We can collectively reduce that.
Changing our total infections in the province is in our hands – every action makes a difference.
Data makes a difference as well. With that in mind, although none of us need a lab test to do the right thing, we are making some additional changes to our testing criteria to ensure we have as much information as possible to understand how our outbreak is unfolding.
Even with the recent addition to our testing eligibility to include seniors aged 65 years or older with symptoms, our daily testing numbers are still lower than our labs have the capacity to test.
Therefore, we are looking at our data to determine where to strategically use testing capacity.
We know that Calgary has had a higher percent positive rate in their lab testing, and this has persisted even with the change in testing in the last week.
In order to get as much information as possible to reduce spread in that area, we are expanding testing effective immediately to include all residents of the Calgary Zone who have a cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat or shortness of breath.
We are also opening testing to essential service workers across the province with any of these same symptoms, defined as anyone whose work site has not been closed to public access by public health orders, and, if they were well, would currently be working outside the home.
I want to emphasize we continue to expect anyone who is ill to remain home for at least 10 days from the start of their symptoms, or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.
Finally, anyone who has any of these symptoms – runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever or shortness of breath, and who lives with a person who is 65 of age and older can also access testing.
Anyone in any of these categories should use the online AHS assessment tool as the way to access testing.
Going through the online tool will be the pathway to booking a test, and a new process is now in place that means that anyone who goes through the online tool does not need to also call 811.
One of these assessment tools is for the general public – including those over 65 or those who live with someone over 65. Another tool is for workers on the list of those eligible. Please use this online tool to access testing.
While increasing testing is an important step to help identify people with COVID-19 in order to do contact tracing and prevent spread, I want to reiterate the best way to contain the outbreak is by all of us staying home as much as possible, and limiting our chances of catching the virus.
Also, please remember, anyone with any of these five symptoms should stay home and away from others for 10 days after the start of symptoms, or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer, even without a lab test. This is critical.
To all Albertans: Please continue to stay home as much as possible.
Even on this upcoming holiday weekend, continue to use virtual means to connect socially.
This is the most important step you can take to help prevent spread of the virus.
If you do need to go out, practice physical distancing and proper hygiene.
I know people are anxious to resume their normal lives.
My family is too.
However, like I’ve said before, this is our “new normal” for right now.
Data helped inform the implementation of public health measures and the measures will only be eased once the data tells us it is safe to do so.
I know people may be wondering if further public health measures will be put into place as we near the virus’ peak.
This is not a question I can answer at this time.
I’ll continue to monitor the data and will make recommendations based on what the data is saying.
What I can tell you is that the coming days and weeks will be critical. The cooperation of all Albertans is needed.
Each and every one of us must continue to do everything we can to prevent the spread of this virus – this is in our hands and we can do this together.
Thank you.