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After weeks of rising COVID-19 case numbers and no change of direction from the Alberta government, officials are set to give an update on public health measures and vaccine incentives Friday.
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Premier Jason Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw and the head of Alberta Health Services, Dr. Verna Yiu, are scheduled to appear at a news conference at 11:30 a.m.
The availability comes after Alberta reported 1,339 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday — the highest daily case count since mid-May and the second consecutive day new cases surpassed 1,300. There are currently 12,868 active cases in the province and 487 people in hospital, of which 114 are in intensive care.
The province leads Canada in per capita cases.
On Wednesday night, the Premier appeared publicly for the first time since Aug. 9 to answer self-selected questions from Albertans on Facebook Live.
Hinshaw hasn’t held a news conference since Aug. 13, when she announced a delay in plans to end routine COVID-19 testing and mandatory isolation. Those measures are set to end Sept. 27.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro last gave a media briefing July 28.
Seventy per cent of Albertans 12 and older have received both of their doses of vaccine, and 78.2 per cent have received at least one dose.
The government has previously announced lotteries as vaccine incentives, with three $1-million cash prizes as well as travel and recreation packages up for grabs.
More to come…
