Alberta confirmed 1,155 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, provincial officials said Friday.
“Our current situation is grim,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw said. She added this week, Alberta confirmed more new active cases than any other week since the pandemic began.
There are now 10,655 active cases in the province; 4,272 in the Calgary zone and 4,520 in the Edmonton zone.
Alberta’s positivity rate sits at 6.5 per cent. More than 17,000 lab tests were done over the last 24 hours.
There are 310 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19; 58 of whom are in intensive care units.
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1:00 ‘Our current situation is grim’: Alberta record 1,155 COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths on Friday
‘Our current situation is grim’: Alberta record 1,155 COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths on Friday
Hinshaw said that while Alberta Health Services can expand ICU capacity in Edmonton and Calgary, it means those beds aren’t available to patients with other illnesses.
“AHS is working to increase capacity for COVID-19 patients if needed,” she said. “Those expanded capacity beds mean less services for others. We cannot do that.
“It means stopping and delaying other services. That’s the impact we want to avoid.”
Hinshaw stressed everyone must do their part to reduce pressure on all aspects of the health-care system.
“The system is taxed.”
1:46 Hinshaw assures Albertans there are enough ICU beds for COVID-19
Hinshaw assures Albertans there are enough ICU beds for COVID-19
She said contact tracers are working tirelessly and “heroically” but they’re facing “an uphill battle.”
Eleven deaths connected to COVID-19 were reported Friday, bringing Alberta’s pandemic death toll to 462.
“Eleven fellow Albertans are gone and their family and friends are mourning their deaths,” Hinshaw said.
Seven of the deaths were linked to outbreaks: The deaths of a woman in her 90s, a woman in her 80s and a man in his 80s are linked to the Edmonton General Care Centre; the deaths of a woman in her 60s and a man in his 90s are linked to the Grey Nuns Community Hospital; the death of a woman in her 90s in the Edmonton zone is connected to Covenant Care Chateau Vitaline; and the death of a man in his 70s from the North zone is linked to Grande Prairie Care Centre.
A man in his 60s from the Edmonton zone, a man in his 60s from the South zone, a woman in her 70s from the Calgary zone and a man in his 80s from the Central zone also died.
Hinshaw said she continues to be concerned with the tragic outcomes in Alberta. It would be a mistake, she said, for people to think severe outcomes only occur in older people.
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“This week, two individuals in their 30s died of this virus.
“While both had co-morbidities, they were not life-threatening on their own.”
Hinshaw explained many Albertans have chronic conditions, which can include things like high blood pressure or diabetes.
Alberta Health said 32,835 people have recovered from the disease.
1:59 AHS sees several cases where designated family or supports intentionally did not disclose COVID-19 status
AHS sees several cases where designated family or supports intentionally did not disclose COVID-19 status
No new restrictions announced
Neither Premier Jason Kenney nor Health Minister Tyler Shandro joined Friday’s news conference. Hinshaw explained elected officials traditionally participate in COVID-19 updates when there are announcements or changes to be made public.
There were no new restrictions announced by Hinshaw Friday.
She said she and her team continue to discuss possible additional measures to present to decision-makers.
“I cannot speak for the premier… but as a part of the recommendations I’ve made, there’s always been consideration of the impact of COVID-19 and the impacts restrictions have.”
Hinshaw said her job means she’s responsible for the whole health of Albertans.
“It has been challenging to consider what the right balance is and what the right suite of measures would be to bring down COVID-19 rates while maintaining the mental benefits of socialization, of being employed, of being able to have physical activity.”
1:32 ‘This is deadly serious’: Hinshaw asks Albertans to abide by public health rules for COVID-19
She had hoped the recent measures would have somewhat slowed the spread but that hasn’t been the case, Hinshaw said. Therefore, she said her team will need to make recommendations on additional restrictions.
“We cannot let COVID-19 spread unchecked.”
A spokesperson for the premier’s office said: “The government depends on the best scientific advice from its medical experts, including Chief Medical Officer of Health Hinshaw.
“Her team is currently preparing a suite of options,” Christine Myatt said in an email to Global News. “The government will of course clearly communicate any decisions to the public if/when those occur.”
1:16 Hinshaw says finding balance in fighting COVID-19 ‘challenging’ amid calls for more restrictions
Hinshaw says finding balance in fighting COVID-19 ‘challenging’ amid calls for more restrictions
Last Friday, the premier joined Hinshaw for the news conference, announcing new health measures in an attempt to lower COVID-19 rates and hospitalizations. They included a request not to host social gatherings at home and that masks be worn in work places.
On Nov. 12, the province announced indoor group fitness classes and team sports would be prohibited for two weeks from Nov. 13-27 in the Calgary area, Edmonton area, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge and Red Deer.
Restaurants and pubs in the above areas, as well as areas on “enhanced status” must stop liquor sales by 10 p.m. and close by 11 p.m. This measure will also be in place from Nov. 13-27.
1:26 COVID-19: Alberta announces 2-week pause on group fitness, group performance classes and indoor team sports
The mayor of Calgary doesn’t think the current restrictions are helping.
“We should have seen numbers go down by now,” Naheed Nenshi said during a 770 CHQR interview on The Morning News With Sue Deyell And Andrew Schultz on Friday.
“Typically we see the numbers respond — if they’re going to respond — within five to 14 days. Fourteen is really the outlier. And the fact that they haven’t responded is actually quite concerning.
“It’s not about panic or fear but it’s about being very clear-headed… about looking at these numbers and where they’re going.”
Nenshi said the most concerning numbers are the rising hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths. He said he spoke with Hinshaw and the premier earlier this week and they’re also very, very worried.
“It’s very clear that they’re very concerned by these numbers. The premier continues to be concerned about particularly what will happen to retail businesses as we go into the Christmas season if we have more of a shutdown.
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“But I think it’s pretty clear that more restrictive measures will be coming for the province sooner rather than later,” he said.
“I would not be at all surprised if they went with more restrictions prior to the end of the two-week period that they announced last week, especially with numbers like yesterday’s.”
1:52 New initiative encourages Edmontonians to shop local
New initiative encourages Edmontonians to shop local
Whatever rules are in place, Nenshi is encouraging people to support local business as much as possible but in a safe way: shop online and order from a small local business using its website, delivery or curb-side pickup.
“A lot of businesses have been telling me: ‘Look, if you’re going to do this, please do it now so we have the opportunity to salvage some of the Christmas season… Get this over with. Don’t keep waiting,’” Nenshi said.
“Today, Ontario is going to announce more restrictions, there’s now a mask mandate in every province across the country except Alberta, so I imagine the pressure on the provincial government on this is pretty high.
“Let’s not wait for government to tell us the right thing to do,” he added. “It’s time for people to start restricting our activities now.”
MONTREAL – Travel company Transat AT Inc. reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year earlier as its revenue edged lower.
The parent company of Air Transat says it lost $39.9 million or $1.03 per diluted share in its quarter ended July 31.
The result compared with a profit of $57.3 million or $1.49 per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue in what was the company’s third quarter totalled $736.2 million, down from $746.3 million in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Transat says it lost $1.10 per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of $1.10 per share a year earlier.
Transat chief executive Annick Guérard says demand for leisure travel remains healthy, as evidenced by higher traffic, but consumers are increasingly price conscious given the current economic uncertainty.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
Dollarama Inc.’s food aisles may have expanded far beyond sweet treats or piles of gum by the checkout counter in recent years, but its chief executive maintains his company is “not in the grocery business,” even if it’s keeping an eye on the sector.
“It’s just one small part of our store,” Neil Rossy told analysts on a Wednesday call, where he was questioned about the company’s food merchandise and rivals playing in the same space.
“We will keep an eye on all retailers — like all retailers keep an eye on us — to make sure that we’re competitive and we understand what’s out there.”
Over the last decade and as consumers have more recently sought deals, Dollarama’s food merchandise has expanded to include bread and pantry staples like cereal, rice and pasta sold at prices on par or below supermarkets.
However, the competition in the discount segment of the market Dollarama operates in intensified recently when the country’s biggest grocery chain began piloting a new ultra-discount store.
The No Name stores being tested by Loblaw Cos. Ltd. in Windsor, St. Catharines and Brockville, Ont., are billed as 20 per cent cheaper than discount retail competitors including No Frills. The grocery giant is able to offer such cost savings by relying on a smaller store footprint, fewer chilled products and a hearty range of No Name merchandise.
Though Rossy brushed off notions that his company is a supermarket challenger, grocers aren’t off his radar.
“All retailers in Canada are realistic about the fact that everyone is everyone’s competition on any given item or category,” he said.
Rossy declined to reveal how much of the chain’s sales would overlap with Loblaw or the food category, arguing the vast variety of items Dollarama sells is its strength rather than its grocery products alone.
“What makes Dollarama Dollarama is a very wide assortment of different departments that somewhat represent the old five-and-dime local convenience store,” he said.
The breadth of Dollarama’s offerings helped carry the company to a second-quarter profit of $285.9 million, up from $245.8 million in the same quarter last year as its sales rose 7.4 per cent.
The retailer said Wednesday the profit amounted to $1.02 per diluted share for the 13-week period ended July 28, up from 86 cents per diluted share a year earlier.
The period the quarter covers includes the start of summer, when Rossy said the weather was “terrible.”
“The weather got slightly better towards the end of the summer and our sales certainly increased, but not enough to make up for the season’s horrible start,” he said.
Sales totalled $1.56 billion for the quarter, up from $1.46 billion in the same quarter last year.
Comparable store sales, a key metric for retailers, increased 4.7 per cent, while the average transaction was down2.2 per cent and traffic was up seven per cent, RBC analyst Irene Nattel pointed out.
She told investors in a note that the numbers reflect “solid demand as cautious consumers focus on core consumables and everyday essentials.”
Analysts have attributed such behaviour to interest rates that have been slow to drop and high prices of key consumer goods, which are weighing on household budgets.
To cope, many Canadians have spent more time seeking deals, trading down to more affordable brands and forgoing small luxuries they would treat themselves to in better economic times.
“When people feel squeezed, they tend to shy away from discretionary, focus on the basics,” Rossy said. “When people are feeling good about their wallet, they tend to be more lax about the basics and more willing to spend on discretionary.”
The current economic situation has drawn in not just the average Canadian looking to save a buck or two, but also wealthier consumers.
“When the entire economy is feeling slightly squeezed, we get more consumers who might not have to or want to shop at a Dollarama generally or who enjoy shopping at a Dollarama but have the luxury of not having to worry about the price in some other store that they happen to be standing in that has those goods,” Rossy said.
“Well, when times are tougher, they’ll consider the extra five minutes to go to the store next door.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
TORONTO – The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has ordered TD Bank Group to pay US$28 million for repeatedly sharing inaccurate, negative information about its customers to consumer reporting companies.
The agency says TD has to pay US$7.76 million in total to tens of thousands of victims of its illegal actions, along with a US$20 million civil penalty.
It says TD shared information that contained systemic errors about credit card and bank deposit accounts to consumer reporting companies, which can include credit reports as well as screening reports for tenants and employees and other background checks.
CFPB director Rohit Chopra says in a statement that TD threatened the consumer reports of customers with fraudulent information then “barely lifted a finger to fix it,” and that regulators will need to “focus major attention” on TD Bank to change its course.
TD says in a statement it self-identified these issues and proactively worked to improve its practices, and that it is committed to delivering on its responsibilities to its customers.
The bank also faces scrutiny in the U.S. over its anti-money laundering program where it expects to pay more than US$3 billion in monetary penalties to resolve.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
