Dozens of Alberta doctors asking for two-week lockdown
Posted Nov 10, 2020 7:43 am.
Last Updated Nov 10, 2020 7:44 am.
EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – Over 70 doctors in Alberta are calling for a sharp two-week lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to rise.
The doctors have penned a letter to the provincial government asking for the short-lockdown referred to as a “circuit breaker.”
The letter states as fewer people will be out and about, it gives contact tracers time to catch up, and allow the government an opportunity to formulate some targeted regional public health measures moving forward.
If such a drastic measure is not taken, the doctors said the consequences would be catastrophic to Albertans and the health-care system.
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The move is similar to the one introduced by the B.C. government over the weekend as cases in Metro Vancouver are skyrocketing as well.
“I know this is hard, I know we don’t want to have to be doing this,” said Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Bonnie Henry. “We need to support each other right now to make this break. We appreciate that this takes a sustained daily effort and these efforts are critical.”
Meanwhile, Alberta’s top doctor, Deena Hinshaw said a two-week lockdown is one of many options being discussed, but there are pros and cons to it.
“I think the circuit breaker idea is an interesting one. When we’re looking at all of our options, we know that there is no one perfect way to manage our COVID-19 experience, we need to look at all options on the table including that circuit breaker.”
On Monday, Alberta reported 644 cases of the virus after seeing a record number of 919 cases on Saturday.
Meanwhile, B.C. recorded 998 cases over the weekend with 133 people in hospital.
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“There are times in a pandemic when we have to move very quickly to close the gaps and seal the cracks, and right now, especially in Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health, this is that time. Our pandemic response depends on it. We know it’s asking a lot of 3 million people,” said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix.
The province announced on Saturday that social gatherings of any size with people outside the immediate household aren’t allowed in private homes in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions.
“This includes indoor gatherings of fewer than 50 people, even in controlled settings, so it supersedes our mass gathering order that we have had in place for some time,” Henry said.
Funerals and weddings can happen, but only with people in immediate households.
“We need to stop our social connections, where we, unfortunately, are seeing this virus spread and spread to those that we are closest to and that we care most about,” Henry said.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has rejected calls for lockdowns saying they will not achieve any of their goals in the fight against COVID-19 and further damage the economy.
Kenney has instead urged people to stop holding large social gatherings which many cases have been linked to.
“My message is, knock it off,” he said during an update on Nov. 2. “You can shut down all the bars and restaurants, which the data doesn’t support and some folks might irresponsibly just continue to have house parties and large private gatherings.”
-With files from NEWS 1130
