Alberta is rowing back on plans to end mandatory isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19, a government source told CBC News, as cases in the province hit their highest level since late May.┬а┬а┬а
The province was due to end most COVID-19 restrictions on Aug. 16, including requirements to wear masks on public transit and in schools as well as strict protocols around testing and contact tracing.┬а┬аBut the province’s current health guidelines will remain in place for now, the source said.
Plans to move COVID-19 testing from provincial assessment centres┬аto physicians’ clinics as of┬аAug. 31 are still on track, the source said.
Alberta public health officials reported 550 net new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the second day in a row that the daily case count surpassed the 500 mark.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, is expected to announce the latest changes┬аto plans during a news conference on Friday, according to the source.
The province in July announced the plan to scrap restrictions but quickly faced a backlash, with the Canadian Paediatric Society, Alberta Medical Association, Alberta College of Family Physicians and the federal health minister all expressing concern.
In a column sent to news┬аoutlets in early August, Hinshaw apologized for causing “confusion, fear or anger” after communicating the plan to lift public health measures.
Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu┬аlast week wrote to her Alberta counterpart, saying she agreed with the Canadian Paediatric Society’s description of Alberta’s move to lift the measures┬аas an “unnecessary and risky gamble.”
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney fired back at the minister,┬аsaying┬аhe wouldn’t┬а“take lectures” from the federal government.
The number of Albertans who have died from COVID-19 stands┬аat 2,331.
