COVID-19 Live Updates: News on coronavirus in Calgary for May 2

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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 had an upcoming surgery postponed? Do you have a family member in the ICU, or have you recovered after spending time in the ICU? 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.

Kenney ‘angered and saddened’ by large gathering at rodeo on weekend as province reports 1,731 new COVID-19 cases

Alberta’s premier says he is “angered and saddened” by people flouting restrictions at an illegal rodeo on the weekend.

Premier Jason Kenney spoke out on Sunday against a rodeo that took place over the weekend in violation of public health measures, telling Albertans ignoring those measures to “smarten up.”

The two-day “No More Lockdowns Rodeo” took place outside Bowden, Alta. — about 105 kilometres north of Calgary — in violation of COVID-19 public health restrictions. The rodeo drew thousands of people to gather on Saturday and Sunday, at a time when outdoor gatherings of more than 10 are in contravention with the rules.

“The reason we are at this critical stage of the pandemic in Alberta, with record-high daily case counts and intensive care numbers, is precisely because too many Albertans are ignoring the rules we currently have in place,” Kenney said on social media Sunday afternoon.

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“If we do not begin to bend the curve, our health-care system could very well be overwhelmed in a matter of weeks.”

Alberta reported another 1,731 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, after logging a record-high 2,433 on Saturday.

With the new cases, there are 22,920 active cases across the province — the highest Alberta has seen throughout the pandemic. Of the active cases, about 62 per cent are variants of concern.

Another 1,132 variant cases were detected Sunday. However, the surge in cases has overwhelmed Alberta’s ability to process new cases, forcing the province to scale back variant testing efforts.

There are 648 people in hospital due to COVID-19, including 155 in intensive-care units.

An additional three deaths were reported Sunday, bringing the province’s death toll to 2,086.

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‘Right thing to do:’ Alberta Legislature suspending spring sitting for two weeks as COVID-19 spikes

Alberta’s provincial government is suspending the spring sitting of legislature for two weeks amid rising COVID-19 case numbers.

The decision was made after Government House Leader Jason Nixon consulted with the official opposition and advising Speaker Nathan Cooper that the move is in the public interest, said a government press release issued Sunday afternoon.

“With COVID-19 continuing to spread across Alberta, the Government has determined that having MLAs return to Edmonton from all over the province after constituency week is no longer prudent,” said Nixon in the release. “Suspending proceedings is the right thing to do as case counts increase. We continue to strongly encourage all Albertans to follow their local health guidelines and get vaccinated when it’s their turn.”

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The provincial cabinet will continue to meet virtually and legislative committees will proceed virtually. The suspension is set to last until May 17.

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India flight ban leaves some Calgarians stranded in the COVID-ravaged country

When Gurlal Gill left Calgary last month to visit his dying mother in India, he didn’t know how dire the country’s COVID-19 situation would become.

Now, Gill, his brother and his wife are stranded in India’s Punjab state after Canada banned all flights from the country on April 22 due to a rapid spike in cases of the novel coronavirus in India.

India has reported upwards of 400,000 daily cases of the virus in recent days, spread driven by the “double mutant” B.1.617 variant; one case of this variant has been found in Alberta. The surge has toppled India’s health-care system and led to an oxygen shortage.

“We’re stuck here, and we’ve been trying to come back home to Calgary as soon as possible,” Gill said. “My mom passed away on the 10th. We were done with (funeral arrangements) after the 20th, and we tried to come back, but then Canada stopped the flights.

“I don’t know what to do.”

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Volunteers deliver food to Muslims stuck in isolation while marking Ramadan

Several Calgary community groups are providing food hampers to aid Muslims in need during the holy month of Ramadan.

In the past year, the Calgary East Zone Newcomers Collaborative has delivered 5,185 food hampers to nearly 26,000 people, helping those in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“Of course Muslims come from many different cultural backgrounds, so if it’s a Middle Eastern family or a family from India or Indonesia — wherever that family is from — it includes foods they typically eat and all halal,” said Anila Lee Yuen, chair of the collaborative.

“When people are in crisis situations, being able to have the food that’s comforting to them is extremely important.”

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Cargill clinic immunizes 1,638 workers, a ‘bright spot of hope’ in COVID storm

An immunization clinic for workers at the Cargill meat-packing plant in High River was a “smashing success,” according to one organizer.

Doctors running the on-site clinic used every last dose of vaccine they had to inoculate 1,638 workers. They planned to run the clinic for three days, but ran through their supply in only a day and a half.

“We ended up superseding the number of people who had signed up with walk-ins,” said Dr. Gabriel Fabreau, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary who was among co-leads at the clinic.

“It’s a smashing success. It’s an unmitigated, unbelievable success.”

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Vax hunters: Two Edmonton women take Alberta’s vaccine booking system into their own hands

Looking to book a vaccine but can’t seem to navigate the system? Two Edmonton women are here to help as they make sure everyone who wants a shot can get one.

Janaya Matheson and Sarah Mackey have spent the past week guiding Albertans through the multitude of avenues available to book vaccine appointments. Posting open slots on social media, supporting people online and answering as many questions as they can, Matheson said they have been flooded with inquiries since they began.

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“We’re just a couple of women here who are looking at helping hook people up with appointments, the system is not easy to navigate at all times, people have lots of questions,” said Matheson.

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Indian industry body urges curbs to economic activity to save lives

NEW DELHI — A leading Indian industry body urged authorities to take the “strongest national steps” and to curtail economic activity to save lives on Sunday as the country battles surging coronavirus cases that have overwhelmed the health-care system.

The rate of new infections dipped marginally but deaths kept climbing. Authorities reported 392,488 new cases in the previous 24 hours, pushing total cases to 19.56 million. Deaths jumped by a record 3,689, taking the overall toll to 215,542.

Billionaire Uday Kotak, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, said a “maximal response measure at the highest level is called for to cut the transmission links,” as building healthcare infrastructure will take time.

He was speaking on behalf of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), where he is the president.

“At this critical juncture when toll of lives is rising, CII urges the strongest national steps including curtailing economic activity to reduce suffering,” Kotak said in a statement.

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Britain to send 1,000 more ventilators to India

LONDON — Britain will send another 1,000 ventilators to India, the government said on Sunday, stepping up its support as India’s healthcare system struggles to cope with a huge surge in cases of COVID-19.

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India has reported more than 300,000 daily cases for more than 10 days straight, leaving hospitals, morgues and crematoriums overwhelmed.

The British government had previously agreed to send 600 medical devices, including ventilators and oxygen concentrators.

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Saturday

As Alberta logs record 2,433 COVID-19 cases, province scales back variant screening

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Alberta’s record surge of COVID-19 infections reached new heights Saturday, as the province reported 2,433 new cases.

It’s by far the most cases logged in Alberta in a single day, a significant step up from the 2,048 and 2,007 infections reported Thursday and Friday, respectively.

The cases came from 20,457 tests, representing an 11.9 per cent positivity rate, also an all-time high.

The surge has overwhelmed Alberta’s ability to process all new cases, forcing the province to scale back variant testing efforts.

Read more.

Saturday

Calgary doctor urges pregnant women to get vaccinated as hospital visits increase

A Calgary doctor who specializes in prenatal care says Alberta hospitals have seen an increase of pregnant individuals seeking non-prenatal care in the past three weeks.

Dr. Eliana Castillo is a clinical associate processor for the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine as well as the Alberta lead for the CANCOVID-Preg study.

That effort monitors cases of COVID-19 in pregnant women across Canada.

Here in Alberta, a team lead by Castillo and her colleague Verena Kuret has collected data that shows 1,440 pregnant women have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

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Saturday

Neighbours of Street Church ‘terrorized’ by anti-mask preacher and followers

Community members living near Street Church say preacher Artur Pawlowski and his followers have threatened neighbours with violence after speaking out against the congregation’s disregard for public health measures and hateful rhetoric.

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The southeast Calgary church, located at 4315 26th Ave. S.E., hosted another mass gathering on Saturday with hundreds of unmasked individuals outwardly defying provincial restrictions, including the 10-person cap on outdoor gatherings. He has been issued several notices from Alberta Health Services and Calgary police for flouting public health measures.

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Saturday

B.C. won’t run checkstops at border, but province urges Albertans to stay home

Albertans travelling into British Columbia won’t face checkstops amid the province’s new restrictions, B.C.’s solicitor general says.

But that doesn’t mean Alberta residents should make any non-essential trips west, said Mike Farnworth.

“There will be signage that says there should be essential travel only,” Farnworth told Postmedia Friday.

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Saturday

Doctor’s note not required for youth vaccination: Dr. Hinshaw

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Youth will no longer be required to have a doctor’s note to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under Phase 2B of Alberta’s vaccine rollout, announced Alberta’s top doctor on Saturday.

Residents born between 2006 and 2009, ages 12 to 15, are currently eligible for the Pfizer-BioTech vaccine if they have high-risk underlying health conditions, such as cancer or chronic respiratory diseases.

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