Albertans can expect stronger public health measures to be announced Tuesday: premier

As COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb, Albertans can expect an announcement on Tuesday about stronger public health measures, Premier Jason Kenney says.

Kenneytold a news conference on Monday that he was angeredto see that a large group of people gatheredover the weekend at arodeoevent in Bowden, Alta., in flagrant violation of the restrictions in place.

"Given the issues we saw this weekend and the record-high cases reporting, we are developing a package of stronger public health measures, which I expect to announce tomorrow," hesaid.

Grilled by reporters about his response to the pandemic's third wave, Kenneysaid his government continues to take the broad view that public health measures mustbe balanced against economic considerations.

"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 for whatever reason, too many Albertans are ignoring the rules that we have in place," he said.

KenneysaidAlberta has essentially the same rules in place as British Columbiaand Saskatchewan."Their case counts are going down while ours are going up," he said.

WATCH | Alberta premier frustrated by COVID-19 deniers:

Alberta premier frustrated with Albertas COVID-deniers

3 years ago

Duration 2:19

Premier Jason Kenney says some Albertans COVID-19 denial is as astounding as it is aggravating - and that people need to get board with restrictions and vaccinations.

"This is incredibly frustrating for all of us. And this is why I am imploring all Albertans to take this seriously. I said ... last Thursdaythat if Albertans are not willing to do what's right, even though it's hard, then we will be forced to take further steps."

Those further steps are likely to be announcedTuesday, he said.

Government has 'sought to avoid' tougher rules

Alberta could have the hardest lockdown imaginable, Kenney said, but if a large portion of the population refusesto follow the guidelines, rules would have little impact on case numbers.

He put that down to a "behavioural difference" between Albertans and those in neighbouring provinces.

"Clearly, what's happening right now cannot continue, and that's why we may be left with no tools left in the toolbox apart from broader, tougher restrictions restrictions that we have sought to avoid but which may be necessary."

The premier also announced thatall teachers and school support staff and all child-care workerswill able to book appointments for a COVID-19 vaccinestarting Tuesday.

WATCH | Former Alberta chief medical officer of health supports hard lockdown:

Former Alberta chief medical officer of health calls for hard lockdown in province

3 years ago

Duration 9:03

Dr. James Talbot says more restrictive measures to control the spread of COVID-19 should have been taken weeks ago. 'We've already lost ground. There's no more time to wait', he said.

Kenney said the provincial government estimates that more than 60 per cent of teachers and child-care workers and support staff workers have already been able to get the vaccine because of an age-based rollout.

Vaccines will be given out on the honour system, he said.

"We're watching our vaccine supply carefully and expect to open Phase 3 to bookings for the general population over the age of 16 in the very near future," Kenney said.

Active cases highest since start of pandemic

The province reported 2,012 new cases on Mondayand four more deaths.Across Alberta, 658 people were being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals, including 154 in intensive care beds. Alberta identified another 1,900variant cases. Variants now make up 64 per cent of active cases.

The provincereported 23,608active cases on Monday, the highest total since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Referring to the rodeo over the weekend, Kenneysaid those who took part were violating what he called "common-sense" public health measures.

"That event was organized by people who simply don't care," he said. "Apparently they don't care about COVID, and they don't care about the sacrifices that millions of Albertans are making every single day."

Albertahas thehighest active case rate in Canada, with 508active cases per 100,000 people twice that of the next highest rate of 252in Ontario.

The government last week imposednew public health measures in hot spots across the provincewhere there are more than 350 active cases per 100,000 people and at least 250 total active cases.

The list of targeted communities includes Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Airdrie, Lethbridge,Strathcona County,Okotoks and Rocky View County.