In early December, Alberta Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at William J. Cadzow Hospital in Lac La Biche with as many as 18 people testing positive for the virus. According to the most recent provincial numbers, with two additional deaths reported over the weekend, there have been eight COVID-19 related deaths in Lac La Biche County — three of those are associated with the outbreak at the hospital.
Leading up to last weekend, Tom McMillan, assistant director of communications for Alberta Health, would not provide details about the deaths.
When asked if any were related to specific communities, whether or not the people had traveled from outside of the region or if they were associated with facilities like seniors’ homes or the hospital’s own extended care ward, he said no further details would be released.
“Unfortunately, we cannot comment on the specific cases or deaths in a location. This is due to patient confidentiality. We respect the privacy of those who mourn the loss of their loved one during this difficult time,” said McMillan.
“I encourage everyone who is experiencing grief to support them and let them know they are not alone.”
— Alberta’s Chief Medical officer of Health Deena Hinshaw
Recent update
The January 27 provincial numbers showed 65 active cases in the MD of Bonnyville with two deaths reported, 52 active cases in the city Cold Lake and 68 active cases, with three deaths reported in the St. Paul County region.
In her weekend COVID update last Sunday, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw spoke to communities dealing with losses.
“To all that are experiencing loss at this time, whether from COVID-19 or any other cause, every death leaves a hole in the lives of those who love them, and current restrictions make it harder to support each other the way we are used to,” said Hinshaw. “I encourage everyone who is experiencing grief to support them and let them know they are not alone.”
Confirmed deaths in the region have been made more difficult to pin-point, however, as the province’s COVID website reports two differing numbers for active cases and deaths in the Lac La Biche region. For several months, two maps on the same website show slightly different statistics for regions across the province.
In the most recent information from January 27, one map, displaying the “municipality” is showing 63 active cases and seven deaths for the Lac La Biche County. A second map on the same website page has Lac La Biche County within a “Local Geographic Area” that includes “NW Smoky Lake County & ID 349”. That map shows 66 active cases and eight deaths.
McMillan said the differences are due to the combining of some statistics from smaller municipalities. The decision to combine some areas also helps to safeguard residents in smaller communities being identified in the statistics.
“Smaller locations have been incorporated into the corresponding rural area where needed to protect patient confidentiality,” said McMillan. “The geospatial map provides non-identifying case information - active, recovered, and total deaths, according to local geographic area (LGA) and municipalities.”
Local numbers on the rise
Despite enhanced restrictive measures in place since last December, the active COVID-19 cases in either version of the maps for the Lac La Biche County region are showing numbers that have quadrupled in just a few short weeks. The community began the new year with just 20 active cases, but as of Sunday night, there were 77.
Larger centres in the province, including Edmonton and Calgary, have seen transmission rates drop in the new year. Officials in both of those cities imposed mandatory mask bylaws in August of last year. Although Lac La Biche County councillors discussed the idea of mandatory masks for all public places at several meetings dating back to October, an actual vote to adopt a mask bylaw didn’t come until December 1 — where it was defeated by a majority vote of council.
A week later, as council was again considering a vote on the issue, provincial officials brought in sweeping restrictions including a province-wide mask mandate carrying a $1,000 violation fine.
A plan to re-visit a municipal mask bylaw that would come into effect if the province rolled back its current health order, was recently accepted as information by council. The idea of the bylaw would be to carry on a localized mask mandate for 14 days following the end of the provincial restriction. In the draft version of that municipal bylaw, a first-time violation carries a $50 fine.
While the draft version has been prepared, no further action was taken on introducing the local bylaw, with council members at their January 12 meeting saying the province’s order is enough. “We were looking at it because the province wasn’t stepping in,” explained councillor Lorin Tkachuk, opting not to begin a vote process on the bylaw. He said the addition of a similar, but local bylaw would give “the wrong impression” to the public.
If a municipal bylaw for mandatory mask use is needed, Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi said it could be enacted quickly.
Councillors did not discuss the region’s high mortality rates or the increasing active case numbers of the virus during the open session of the most recent council meeting on January 26, but did comment on the economic and mental struggles the continuing pandemic measures are causing residents, the community’s most vulnerable and businesses.
In her Sunday update, Hinshaw said “a bit more time” is needed to evaluate provincial numbers before decisions on removing enhanced measures will take place.
