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Mountain View County, urban centres under new mandatory COVID restrictions

Region's relaunch status upgraded to enhanced
The Albertan Staff
MVT stock COVID-19 temp
Mandatory restrictions are now in place in several of the region's municipalities now that cases in the region have reached at least 10 active cases and more than 50 active cases per 100,000 population as per AHS guidelines. File photo

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Alberta Health Services (AHS) has elevated Mountain View County and some urban centres within it to enhanced relaunch status as rising COVID-19 cases in the region exceeded a set threshold forcing new mandatory restrictions for the region.

Officials with Mountain View County, the Town of Carstairs and the Town of Sundre alerted residents through social media posts yesterday (Nov. 10) new mandatory restrictions are in place in their respective municipalities now that cases in the region have reached at least 10 active cases and more than 50 active cases per 100,000 population as per AHS guidelines.

For the affected municipalities in the region, there is now a mandatory 15-person limit on social and family gatherings - indoors and outdoors. This applies to all social gatherings, including but not limited to:
 
• banquets and award ceremonies;
 
• wedding or funeral receptions;
 
• luncheons or potlucks;
 
• parties: birthday, baby showers, retirement, dinners, backyard barbecues;
 
• other private social gatherings and functions.
 
The new mandatory measure does not apply to structured events where restrictions are already in place, including but not limited to:

• seated-audience conferences, sports and shows;
 
• dine-in restaurants;
 
• fitness centres;
 
• funeral services;
 
• wedding ceremonies;
 
• worship services.

While Olds remains under open relaunch status, according to the province's relaunch status map, and further restrictions have not been put in place in that municipality, Didsbury and Cremona are included as being under enhanced status as communities smaller than 10,000 are included in the surrounding municipal district.

"The Town of Carstairs is included in this group and will be abiding by these limitations where people are mixing and mingling," according to the town's Nov. 10 post. The town's planned outdoor Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph moved indoors today with the 15-person restriction in place.
 
Because of the new mandatory restrictions, Didsbury Museum officials have cancelled this afternoon's Remembrance Day Sunset Ceremony.
 
In addition to the new mandatory restrictions, Mountain View County officials are encouraging residents to use virtual formats to meet with county staff whenever possible and to limit in-person meetings in the county office. Mountain View County has a variety of options to serve residents virtually including phone, email or ZOOM meeting software. For residents that need to attend the county office, the use of masks and social distancing is being strongly encouraged.
 
Additionally, all residents and visitors of communities on the province's watch/enhanced list are recommended to adhere to the following voluntary measures:

• Limit your cohorts to no more than three (https://www.alberta.ca/restrictions-on-gatherings.aspx): your core household, your school, and one other sport or social cohort. Young children who attend child care could be part of 4 cohorts, given that child care settings have not been a high risk for spread.

• Wear a mask in all indoor work settings (https://www.alberta.ca/masks.aspx), except when alone in a workspace like an office or cubicle where you are safely distanced from others, or an appropriate barrier is in place.

The Mountain View County region's rate of active cases per 100,000 population is 65.5.

As of the end of day on Nov. 9, the Didsbury local geographic area (includes Carstairs and south Mountain View County) has had 38 cases total since the pandemic began (11 listed as active, 27 recovered and no deaths).

The Olds local geographic area (includes north Mountain View County) has had 17 cases total since pandemic began (one is listed as active, 16 recovered, and no deaths).

The Sundre local geographic area (includes west Mountain View County) has had five case total since pandemic began (four listed as active, one recovered and no deaths).

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