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Aggressive testing measures and low hospitalization rates have infectious disease experts giving the nod to Alberta’s relaunch plan, but communicating the strategy to keep COVID-19 at bay has been confusing.
Stephanie Smith, director of infection prevention at the University of Alberta Hospital, said overall the government has been successful in controlling the virus while allowing people more freedom. She grades the response as A-.
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‘Caution and optimism:’ Infectious disease experts say Alberta did ok controlling COVID-19 but relaunch communication patchy Back to video
“Obviously we can’t stay locked out like we have been until there’s a vaccine because it’s difficult to predict exactly when that will be,” said Smith. “I think overall they’ve done a good job and and that’s evidenced by the fact that we haven’t had a lot of cases, we haven’t had a lot of deaths or hospitalizations.”
The government began to loosen restrictions on May 14, allowing retail stores, farmers’ markets and hairdressers to open at a limited capacity. Daycares, day camps, museums and art galleries were also allowed to open in a limited fashion while some non-urgent surgeries began again.
