As the possibility of ending the province's Restriction Exemption Program (REP) continues to circulate, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw is neither dismissing nor supporting the idea.
"Our data is indicating that we are likely beginning to turn a corner with this fifth wave," Hinshaw said during a press conference today (Feb. 3). "While this is encouraging news, there are steps we need to continue to take to protect ourselves and each other."
As of Feb. 3, the province reported 2,370 new cases confirmed on 7,338 tests, which equates to a 34 per cent positivity rate.
Hinshaw said during her update that Alberta Education is reporting 19 schools who have shifted to online delivery to address operational challenges, that's about one per cent of all schools in the province. She noted four of these schools have less than 40 students.
The province's top doctor addressed comments from her counterparts across the country with respect to moving to an endemic policy when it comes to COVID-19.
She said she agrees that this should be the procedure when Alberta begins to see sustained decreases in hospitalizations which, she said, other provinces removing restrictions have reached.
"I believe that after the Omicron wave has subsided, the risk to our system becoming overwhelmed will be substantially reduced and this will enable us to shift our response," Hinshaw said.
"We cannot continue to use restrictions in the long-term once the risk of system overwhelm has passed."
Hinshaw said the REP has had benefits since its implementation in September.
In particular, vaccine coverage increased and the risk of transmission in high-risk settings under the rules of the program decreased, as individuals in those settings were required to be vaccinated or have a negative test.
When asked by reporters if she would support the removal of the program "within days" as has been suggested by government officials, Hinshaw would not sway one way or the other and directed the decision to legislators.
"The decisions about policy, including the length of time the Restrictions Exemption Program is in place, are decisions that are the purview of elected officials," she said.
"I want to emphasize that the acute care system is under strain and it's critical that all of us play a part in minimizing the spread of COVID to protect the system and that includes all of the actions we take every day and choices around vaccine," Hinshaw added.
The only change announced by the province today is regarding quarantine requirements for asymptomatic, unvaccinated household contacts of positive cases.
Beginning today, individuals that fall into this category will be required to isolate for 10 days, down from 14.
Hinshaw said this change aligns with rules in other jurisdictions as well as research that indicates the incubation period for Omicron is less than in previous waves.
