Wednesday, May 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Calgary Stampede linked to at least 71 COVID cases

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Jul, 2021 01:10 PM
  • Calgary Stampede linked to at least 71 COVID cases

Alberta Health says 71 cases of COVID-19 are likely to have been acquired at the Calgary Stampede but community spread as a result of those cases is unknown.

Ministry spokesman Tom McMillan says the 10-day rodeo and festival attended by about 529,000 people isn’t a significant driver, so far, in rising infections in the province.

As of Tuesday, the Calgary Zone represented almost 62 per cent of Alberta's 1,173 active cases.

Dr. Stephanie Smith, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alberta, said it's too early to know the repercussions of Stampede.

"We can anticipate there will be secondary infections from the initial 71," Smith said Wednesday. "We need to look over the next two to three weeks to see if we see a jump in those secondary cases.”

Dr. Jia Hu, a doctor who advised Stampede organizers on what precautions to take, said infections acquired at the event represent less than 10 per cent of new cases over the last two weeks.

Hu said the low case count speaks to the effectiveness of vaccines and the safety measures that were brought in.

Masks were not compulsory for attendees, but the Nashville North music venue required proof of vaccination or a negative rapid-test result to enter.

Smith said it's hard to link the current rise in infections to the Stampede alone. Lifting almost all COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta, just before the festival, along with spread of the highly contagious Delta variant first identified in India are key drivers, she said.

Alberta's R-value, or rate of infection, was 1.48 for the week of July 19 to July 25. That means for every 100 people who contracted COVID-19, 148 others were infected.

The rate was slightly higher in Calgary at 1.5 — one of the highest R-values seen in Alberta throughout the pandemic.

Dr. Craig Jenne, an infectious disease expert at the University of Calgary, said Albertans shouldn't panic, but he did add that recent case numbers are cause for concern.

“We have the fewest protected people and yet also the fewest public health guidelines to help limit that spread if an outbreak begins," said Jenne, referring to Alberta's lower vaccination rate compared with other provinces.

"It doesn't guarantee that we're going to see a dramatic rise in cases, but it absolutely creates the potential for rapid and sustained viral spread.”

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada to receive 7.1 million COVID-19 vaccines

Canada to receive 7.1 million COVID-19 vaccines
The federal government is expecting to receive about 7.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this week, as it adjusts its distribution strategy amid waning vaccination rates and substantial supply. The new deliveries will include about 3.1 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and four million doses of Moderna.

Canada to receive 7.1 million COVID-19 vaccines

Canada, allies blame China for cyberattack

Canada, allies blame China for cyberattack
Canada joined the United States and other allies on Monday in blaming China for a massive cyberattack that compromised tens of thousands of computers around the world earlier this year.

Canada, allies blame China for cyberattack

Church destroyed by fire in Surrey, B.C.

Church destroyed by fire in Surrey, B.C.
Surrey Fire Service assistant chief Shelley Morris says the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church was engulfed in flames by the time crews arrived at around 3:30 a.m.

Church destroyed by fire in Surrey, B.C.

Surrey Central Bus Loop closed near City Hall on 104th Ave due to police incident

Surrey Central Bus Loop closed near City Hall on 104th Ave due to police incident
Reports of a police incident near City Hall(104th at City Pkwy). Surrey Central Bus Loop is closed due to a police incident. Police situation blocking traffic in the region by the Surrey Central Bus Loop. Use caution and expect delays.

Surrey Central Bus Loop closed near City Hall on 104th Ave due to police incident

Clean energy centre launched in British Columbia

Clean energy centre launched in British Columbia
Premier John Horgan says each of them will contribute seed money of $35 million to stimulate other investment from the private sector on technologies like carbon capture, the use of low-carbon hydrogen and battery technology. 

Clean energy centre launched in British Columbia

45 COVID19 cases for Friday

45 COVID19 cases for Friday
80.6% (3,485,949) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 53.2% (2,301,322) received their second dose.

45 COVID19 cases for Friday