BANFF – Banff and Lake Louise COVID-19 cases are escalating, putting the region on the list of communities with an enhanced status.
As of Thursday (Nov. 12), there were 23 positive COVID cases in Banff and Lake Louise, however officials say the numbers are likely to continue to grow. The numbers jumped by 15 overnight, as there were only eight cases reported for Improvement District No. 9 the day before.
In a letter to ID No. 9 officials, Greg Murphy with the Alberta Health Emergency Operations Centre indicated that 22 of the 23 cases had an unknown source of exposure at this time. One has been linked to travel.
"As of 4 p.m. today, Improvement District No. 9 will move to enhanced status on the provincial relaunch status map," Murphy wrote. "This includes all communities within the district's limits."
Premier Jason Kenney announced Thursday that as of Friday (Nov. 13), restaurants, bars, lounges and pubs in communities with an enhanced status will be required to stop liquor sales by 10 p.m. and close by 11 p.m. for two weeks.
"Unfortunately, we have seen a growing number of violations, where bars and pubs in particular, have turned into virtual nightclubs," he said.
Kenney said there are 55 communities that have reached an enhanced status.
"We are seeing increases in many other towns and communities," he said.
"We cannot afford to wait. Covid-19 is challenging us to rise to this test. We have to bend the curve back down; to protect the health care system; protect vulnerable Albertans; keep schools open and avoid further damage to people's livelihoods and the economy."
Earls Kitchen and Bar in Banff closed its doors this week due to a positive COVID-19 case and the manager is unsure when the restaurant will reopen.
“We’re doing due diligence and following AHS protocol,” he said, noting he could not comment further due to confidentiality reasons.
There are reports some other businesses in Banff are doing the same, but this has yet to be independently verified by the Outlook.
Banff Caribou Properties reports that it has had five employees within its total workforce that have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past two weeks, but these employee cases are dispersed among various businesses and do not relate to an outbreak at any particular business.
"We were prepared for this, and have worked closely with AHS to implement aggressive contact tracing notifications and isolation protocols necessary to deal with them. All of our contact tracing tests have come back negative," said Gord Lozeman, president and CEO of Banff Caribou Properties..
"The only conclusion that we derived from our contact tracing is that cases have been spread through social gatherings and cohabitation, not hotels and restaurants where COVID mitigations are already firmly in place," he added.
"All affected employees are doing well, in good spirits, and we’re expecting them back to work very soon."
Silvio Adamo, the Town of Banff’s emergency services director, said it is clear that everyone must adhere to these restrictions and the basic safety protocols to prevent overburdening the health-care facilities and keeping the Banff community safe.
“We are asking Banff residents to stop holding any house parties, private social gatherings in other facilities, and any get-together – big or small – where people are not maintaining physical distancing and not wearing masks,” he said.
“We must follow these new restrictions to stop the spread of the virus if we want to avoid further restrictions in our community."
In a note sent out to businesses and stakeholders on Thursday (Nov. 12), Parks Canada said it has been made aware of recent COVID-19 confirmed cases in the Lake Louise area.
“Parks Canada continues to monitor the situation and follow direction provided by Alberta Health Services,” read the statement from the superintendent’s office.
As of Thursday, there are now 8,305 active cases province-wide, with 225 people in hospital due to COVID-19, including 51 in intensive care.
The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Alberta has now reached 393.
In all regions under enhanced status, there are additional measures also being implemented, including a 15-person limit on social and family gatherings, indoors and outdoors.
The restriction of 15 or fewer people applies to all social gatherings, including, but not limited banquets and award ceremonies; wedding or funeral receptions; luncheons or potlucks; parties: birthdays, baby showers, retirement functions, dinners, backyard BBQs; other private social gatherings and functions.
This mandatory measure does not apply to structured events, including but not limited to: seated-audience conferences, sports and shows; dining in restaurants; fitness centres; funeral services; wedding ceremonies; worship services.
Due to the increase in cases centred in Alberta’s major urban centres, additional measures were put in place, including a two-week ban on indoor group fitness classes, team sport activities and group performance activities in Calgary and the surrounding communities of Airdrie, Chestermere, Okotoks, Rockyview County, MD Foothills, and Red Deer.
This restriction does not apply to Banff and Lake Louise at this time.
Adamo said people in Banff need to take extra measures to avoid this type of restriction being imposed in our region.
“Everyone must behave as if they are COVID positive and people around them are potential transmitters of the virus, and follow the new restrictions,” he said.
Other restrictoins for areas on enhanced status include: 50-person limit on wedding ceremonies and funeral services; all faith-based organizations should limit attendance at services to one-third of capacity; It is strongly recommended that no social gatherings occur in private homes; it is strongly recommended that Albertans living in areas under enhanced precautions not move social gatherings to neighbouring communities with lower rates; and employers should reduce the number of staff in office buildings at any one time wherever possible.
