COVID-19 Live Updates: News on coronavirus in Calgary for April 13

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With news on COVID-19 happening rapidly, we’ve created this page to bring you our latest stories and information on the outbreak in and around Calgary.

What’s happening now

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My COVID Story: How have you been impacted by coronavirus?

Postmedia is looking to speak with people who may have been impacted by COVID-19 here in Alberta.  Have you undergone a travel-related quarantine? Have you received your vaccine, and if so did you feel any side effects? Have you changed your life for the better because of the pandemic? Send us an email at reply@calgaryherald.com to tell us your experience, or send us a message via this form.

Read our ongoing coverage of personal stories arising from the pandemic.

Horgan, Kenney discuss interprovincial travel, as B.C. looks at increased travel restrictions

At a news conference Tuesday, B.C. Premier John Horgan said increased travel restrictions in B.C. are possible.

“We haven’t taken travel restrictions off the board,” he said. But they may be difficult to enforce, he said, citing the news that 106 arrivals at the Vancouver International Airport over six weeks refused to comply with a three-day mandatory quarantine.

Horgan said he has discussed with Alberta Premier Jason Kenny essential and non-essential travel between the two provinces and “the consequences that’s having on case counts.”

“We have not taken anything off the table, but practicality is first and foremost,” he said.

Read more.

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City of Calgary votes in favour of tax deferrals for property owners

The city will again reduce penalties for Calgarians who miss this year’s property tax payment deadline.

City council is also exploring a tax deferral for businesses that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, like hotels, nightclubs and gyms.

Last year, in the early days of dealing with the coronavirus, council voted to extend the tax payment deadline to Sept. 30. They also approved rolling back the costs that add up for businesses and homeowners that don’t pay on time.

Typically, going past the June 30 tax due date comes with a seven per cent penalty. If the payment still hasn’t arrived three months after that, another seven per cent hit gets added on top. In 2020, the penalties were applied only on Oct. 1, and council cut them in half.

This year will follow the same scenario: a 3.5 per cent penalty for missing the first summer deadline, and no additional penalty after that. The city also won’t roll out additional charges for unpaid 2021 taxes until at least March of 2022.

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Bennys Breakfast Bar ordered to close dine-in services by AHS for defying restrictions

A Calgary breakfast restaurant that pledged to remain open for indoor dining has been ordered to cease dine-in service by Alberta Health Services.

Bennys Breakfast Bar, located at 7007 11 Street S.E., defied the reintroduced ban on indoor dining until an AHS inspector shut the restaurant down for dine-in on Saturday after finding numerous violations. According to the notice of closure dated Monday, the inspector found people unmasked and within two metres of each other while waiting for a table.

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WestJet extends suspension of flights to Mexico and Caribbean

WestJet is extending the suspension of “sun flights” to Mexico and the Caribbean until at least June 4.

In a Tuesday news release, the Calgary-based airline said that it expects “government policy will transition” as more Canadians are vaccinated.

“We continue to advocate for the replacement of mandatory hotel quarantines with a testing regime that is equitable and consistent with global standards at all points of entry into our country,” said president and CEO Ed Sims in the news release. “Alongside an accelerated and successful vaccine rollout, this policy transition will support the safe restart of travel and help stimulate the Canadian economy, where one in ten jobs are tourism related.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Jan. 29 that WestJet, Air Canada, Sunwing and Transat agreed to suspend flights to typical vacation destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean until April 30 as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from international flights. Those suspensions were announced alongside the federal government’s mandatory isolation policy which requires international travellers to quarantine at government-designated hotels.

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WestJet said customers will be notified of any cancellations and noted that it has been providing refunds when WestJet initiates the cancellation since Nov. 1, 2020.

Related: Aid for WestJet likely imminent in aftermath of multi-billion dollar Air Canada deal: analysts

Up to 28 Calgary schools facing COVID outbreaks with 10 or more cases

Parents are calling for innovation and leadership as 28 Calgary schools face major COVID outbreaks of 10 or more cases — 18 of which are high schools — and more than 6,300 students in isolation.

Among those as of Tuesday, Sir Winston Churchill High School hit 25 total cases, while Western Canada High School moved all Grade 10 students to online learning until at least April 26.

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COVID-19 hospitalizations top 400 as province warns of more potential restrictions

Hospitalizations in Alberta due to COVID-19 surpassed 400 on Tuesday, as the province’s top health and political officials warned of potentially increasing measures in an effort to slow spread of the deadly virus.

The province reported 1,081 more cases from 12,286 tests, for a nine per cent positivity rate. Of those, 705 were cases of the variant strain first detected in the U.K.

“My team is monitoring closely and if we do not see growth slowing soon, further measures may be required,” chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said during a media briefing.

She said the next seven to 10 days would be critical in determining whether increased restrictions would be needed.

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Some Alberta businesses can apply for up to $10,000 under COVID-19 support grant relaunch

Alberta’s government is relaunching its previous support grant to help small and medium businesses through the third COVID-19 wave.

On Tuesday, Premier Jason Kenney announced a new $350-million phase of the province’s Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant (SMERG), reviving a program that began late last year and expired in March.

Alberta small and mid-sized businesses that have seen revenues decline by at least 30 per cent because of public health restrictions will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 through a new round of the relaunch grant, in addition to $20,000 made available in two previous phases.

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1,081 new cases; three deaths

Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided an update on the province’s COVID-19 case numbers on Tuesday afternoon.

• 1,081 new cases on 11,965 tests; ~9% positivity rate
• 402 in hospital; 88 in ICUs
• Three additional deaths; 2,021 total
• 705 new variant cases reported; variants are 52.4% of active cases
• 15,087 active cases; 146,011 recovered

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Watch the full livestream below.

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Aid for WestJet likely imminent in aftermath of multi-billion dollar Air Canada deal: analysts

A federal aid package for Calgary-based WestJet will likely be announced soon, analysts say, though exactly what form that aid may take remains to be seen.

News broke Monday that Air Canada — the country’s largest airline and WestJet’s main competitor — will receive a multi-billion dollar relief package from the federal government and in return, will restore domestic routes and refund customers whose flights were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both Air Canada and WestJet have been lobbying for months for government help in the wake of COVID-19 and the resulting cascade of travel bans, restrictions and quarantine orders that have decimated the airline industry and forced both companies to cancel routes and lay off thousands of people.

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Country Thunder postponed again, moved to 2022

Country music festival Country Thunder been postponed again due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

It had been rescheduled from its 2020 dates to Aug. 20-22, 2021 but will be pushed back a year. The festival said it plans to return to Prairie Winds Park for Aug. 19-21, 2022.

“We understand that this is not news that our fans in Alberta wanted to hear,” Country Thunder Music festivals CEO Troy Vollhoffer said in an email. “But, as we have learned, and given these extenuating circumstances, the decision-making process is completely out of our hands.”

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The festival cited the uncertainty around large-scale gatherings and ongoing border and travel restrictions as reasons for postponing the festival until 2022.

When the festival was scheduled for Aug. 21-23, 2020 it had booked headliners Keith Urban, Dan + Shay and Kane Brown. When the festival announced in April 2020 it was postponed to 2021, organizers had said they would try to schedule the same headliners. There were no headliners for the now postponed 2021 edition listed on the Country Thunder website, but tickets were on sale as of Tuesday afternoon.

When the festival was postponed last year, organizers said tickets for the 2020 edition would be honoured for 2021 but refunds were also an option.

Calgary Co-ops to move to ‘strict no mask, no entry policy’

Calgary Co-op is moving to a “strict no mask, no entry policy” on April 19.

In an email sent out on Tuesday to members signed by CEO Ken Keelor, Co-op said it was making the change due to “an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in our community, along with a stark increase in the number of variant cases.”

“Entry to all Calgary Co-op Locations will be granted only to those wearing a face mask (children two and under are exempt),” read the email. “Individuals who are unable to wear a face mask due to a medical condition must wear a face shield. Customers must wear a face mask or shield that covers their nose and mouth at all times.”

The email encouraged those who can’t wear either to shop online or through click and collect at select locations.

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It also said the stores are observing other health and safety practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including frequent cleaning and sanitization of high touch points, distancing markers, capacity limits, and mandatory screening of employees for COVID-19 symptoms before their shifts start.

More than 350 Calgary pharmacies now offering COVID-19 vaccine

There are now 354 pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccine in Calgary. Although the government said on Monday that “select” pharmacies are taking (AstraZeneca) walk-ins for those aged 55-64, it’s likely best to call ahead. Before booking, go to the Alberta government website to find out when you’re eligible for your free vaccination. More details on booking an appointment at a pharmacy can be found at Alberta Blue Cross.

Canmore town council responds to MLA’s COVID restriction stance

The mayor of Canmore has fired off a letter to area MLA questioning her stance on COVID-19 restrictions recently brought in by the provincial government.

Miranda Rosin, MLA for Banff-Kananaskis, was one of 17 MLAs who signed an open letter criticizing the Kenney government for restrictions it enacted to stop a third wave of COVID-19.

In a letter sent on behalf of the entire town council, Canmore Mayor John Borrowman criticizes Rosin for her stance.

In your letter, you indicate that you ‘have heard from your constituents’ on this issue and are acting accordingly,” wrote Borrowman. “I too have heard from residents of the Town of Canmore who speak against the restrictions. However, far more residents express a clear concern that we are not doing enough to curb the spread.”

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He noted that Canmore’s active case count is the highest it has been for several months, and the town is approaching tourist season.

“I ask that as our representative in Edmonton, you make a determined effort to reach out to hear all perspectives in our community before taking such actions as refuting the need for continued caution in containing the virus. This is not a political issue but one of public health.”

Michigan’s worst-ever COVID-19 surge could be thanks to Ontario: Expert

Michigan has become the new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., with one health expert linking the surge to the spread of the U.K. variant from the neighbouring Canadian province of Ontario.

Data compiled by John Hopkins University shows that Michigan is currently recording the highest daily infections per capita in the United States, averaging 7,359 new cases per day over the past week.

Much of the COVID-19 surge is due to the spread of the U.K. variant, says the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which is more transmissible and lethal than the original strain.

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Gathering at Calgary bar linked to 29 cases

AHS says 29 cases of COVID-19 have been traced back to a Calgary bar which hosted an “event” in late March.

In a work order sent to the owners of Junction, located at 628 8th Avenue S.W., AHS inspectors say epidemiologists have traced 27 cases back to the establishment. The cases are all linked to an event on March 22.

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According to the work order, patrons at the event were socializing within two metres of each other.

Today, Alberta Health spokesperson Tom McMillan said there are now 29 cases linked to Junction, with six of those classified as active, and 23 of them considered recovered.

Junction is now listed an outbreak on the province’s website. It is one of five Calgary food establishments linked to an active outbreak.

Junction’s website markets the establishment as a bar with a stage that also serves basic $5  menu items. At the time of the event cited in the work order, Albertans were able to dine in at restaurants in groups as large as six, although only with members of their household or cohort. The number of patrons was limited to 50 per cent of the fire code capacity.

As of April 9, Alberta returned to Step 1 restrictions to combat a growing third wave of COVID-19, meaning restaurants are now only allowed to open for take-out service.

Air Canada to get billions in COVID aid in exchange for restoring domestic routes, refunding cancelled trips

Air Canada will receive a multibillion-dollar relief package from the federal government and in exchange the airline will restore domestic routes and refund customers whose flights were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Months after beleaguered airlines launched negotiations over a bailout, Air Canada and the federal government announced on Monday evening that the country’s largest airline will have access to up to $5.9 billion in low-interest loans and equity financing.

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Under the terms of the deal, the government will buy $500 million worth of shares in the airline at a 15 per cent discount to their recent trading price through the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC). It amounts to a roughly 6 per cent stake.

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U.S. pauses Johnson & Johnson vaccine after rare blood clots reported

U.S. federal health agencies on Tuesday recommended pausing the use of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine after six recipients developed a rare disorder involving blood clots.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold an advisory meeting on Wednesday to review the cases.

All the six recipients were women between the ages of 18 and 48. One woman died and a second in Nebraska has been hospitalized in critical condition, the New York Times reported, citing officials.

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Most Canadians plan to get COVID-19 vaccine, but safety fears drive hesitancy: poll

More Canadians than ever say they intend to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a new poll suggests while fear about vaccine safety is the main driver of hesitancy to get an injection.

All this comes as confidence in governments is plummeting in provinces being hit hardest by the third wave of the pandemic.

At least eight in 10 people surveyed last weekend by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies said they absolutely intend to roll up their sleeve for a vaccine.

The number has been steadily rising for months as vaccines have been rolling out in Canada and around the world, starting at 63 per cent in mid-October, rising to 70 per cent in early February, and 73 per cent in early March.

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Lockdown fatigue is giving way to protests and defiance across the country

With protests breaking out in different parts of the country, and some businesses flatly refusing to follow COVID-19 health orders, lockdown fatigue is giving way to lockdown rage more than a year into the pandemic.

On Sunday, hundreds of people weathered the ice and the chill to protest the closure of the Edmonton-area GraceLife church that has been ignoring public health rules for months. On the other side of the country, windows were smashed and garbage torched in Old Montreal as protesters rejected the province’s latest curfew rules, calling for “freedom for the young.”

As the country battles the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with variants spreading rapidly and the vaccine roll-out slow to catch up, governments have once again stepped up public health restrictions. In Alberta, that meant shuttering indoor dining, and capacity restrictions on indoor gatherings and retail. In Quebec, it has meant a return to an 8 p.m. curfew. In Ontario, already under stay-at-home orders, students won’t return to in-person learning next week after a delayed school break.

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Pandemic-related cuts in cancer screening, surgery have doctors worried more people will die

Thousands of Canadians failed to undergo proactive cancer screening or diagnosis of possible cancers last year because of the pandemic, leading some doctors and advocates to fear a future surge in advanced tumors and deaths.

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Data obtained by the National Post from two provinces and a report issued by a third show that proactive screening of patients without symptoms, and diagnosis of those suspected of having cancer plummeted in the first months of the coronavirus crisis.

Prostate cancer saw a particularly dramatic change, with 60 per cent fewer biopsies performed in Ontario between last March and August.

The Quebec Health Ministry estimates that over 4,000 people who normally would have been diagnosed with a malignancy during the first COVID-19 wave went undiagnosed.

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Monday

Experts urge eligible Albertans to get AstraZeneca vaccine as accessibility expanded, walk-ins accepted

As Alberta expands accessibility for those eligible to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, experts are urging the public not to let those doses go to waste, amid concerns over uptake.

More than 11,700 doses of Alberta’s most recent shipment of AstraZeneca have already been administered, which is in addition to the roughly 58,000 shots of the COVID-19 vaccine given in March. There is concern, however, that Alberta’s temporary suspension of AstraZeneca for people under 55 years and rampant misinformation online has led to greater hesitancy.

“It is still the case that the best vaccine for you is the one that has been recommended and is first available to you. We have to make sure that message gets out again and again,” said Timothy Caulfield, University of Alberta professor of health law and science policy.

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Monday

Alberta on track to hit 2,000 daily cases, 20,000 active infections amid ‘alarming’ spread: Kenney

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Monday the province won’t ease public health restrictions again until rates of new daily cases and total active infections decline, as he predicted record-setting levels of COVID-19 spread in the province in the near future.

Speaking during a news conference, Kenney said COVID-19 cases were rising “at a pretty alarming pace” in Alberta during the third wave of the pandemic.

“Right now, we’re on track to hit probably 2,000 average daily cases in the near future and quite possibly 20,000 active cases,” the premier said.

Read more.

Monday

COVID-19 outbreak leaves firefighters in the city understaffed

COVID-19 infections and isolations are stretching the capabilities of city firefighters, who need to be prioritized for vaccinations, says their union and city officials.

Currently, 56 firefighters have been isolated due to the virus – seven of them infected – said city Fire Chief Steve Dongworth on Monday.

“It is stretching us in terms of staffing,” he said.

“On Saturday, I think it was, we had three trucks that we couldn’t staff. It’s very platoon specific or shift specific in terms of where the problems arise, but certainly (we’re) take some taking some measures right away to make sure our staffing doesn’t drop due to COVID isolations.”

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The issue came up today in city council, with Mayor Naheed Nenshi addressing vaccine eligibility. Civic affairs journalist Madeline Smith is reporting live from council today:

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Monday

GraceLife Church holds secret service after AHS fenced facility for violating public health orders

GraceLife Church held an in-person service at an undisclosed location Sunday after Alberta Health Services (AHS) erected metal fencing around the building last week for violating COVID-19 health orders.

The Parkland County church posted a video to YouTube on Monday of the service, which was led by pastor James Coates. During the service, Coates described the actions by AHS as having “jailed” the church’s facility. AHS with assistance from RCMP shuttered the building last Wednesday after months of defiance of provincial health orders.

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Monday

Alberta Speaker apologizes for ‘crossing a line’ after signing letter opposing government pandemic health restrictions

The Alberta legislature’s Speaker Nathan Cooper has apologized after being one of 16 MLAs to sign a letter opposing the government’s latest public health restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“In haste, I engaged on a matter of political discourse that may have raised questions about the impartiality of the chair. Upon quiet reflection, and given the benefit of time, I have regret for my error in judgment,” he said in the legislature Monday.

Cooper said he apologizes “unreservedly” and that the impartiality of his position is fundamental to democracy.

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Monday

Shandro introduces bill to walk back controversial emergency health powers

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Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro introduced a bill Monday to undo controversial government powers established more than one year ago during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If passed, Bill 66, the Public Health Amendment Act, would repeal sections of Bill 10 that allowed cabinet ministers to make legislative changes without the approval of the legislature. The original bill amending the Public Health Act passed in 48 hours last April, with opposition from the NDP.

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Monday

Calgary Folk Music Festival ‘cautiously optimistic’ for modified event at Prince’s Island Park

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival has cancelled its summer event for the second year in a row, but officials in Calgary say there are still plans underway to bring live folk-fest music back to Prince’s Island Park in July “in a very modified way.”

On Monday, the Calgary Folk Music Festival released a statement, saying officials were “engaging in in-depth, ongoing conversations with the City and the Province around the ever-changing COVID-19 situation. We remain cautiously optimistic and adaptable so are in the process of planning ways to safely bring live music back, in a very modified way, to Prince’s Island Park this summer.”

It is scheduled to run from July 22 to July 25.

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Monday

1,136 new cases, five deaths

The latest COVID-19 numbers for Alberta:

There was no live update from chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw on Monday afternoon; the latest numbers were posted on the government’s website.