Yesterday, Dr. Hinshaw updated the Province with troubling statistics that our provincial cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. In Calgary and Edmonton, she also mandated that private social gatherings must now be limited to 15 people. Find out what Mayor Chalmers has to say about Chestermere’s current 40 cases and Dr. Hinshaw’s recommendations in the video here:

Video Transcript:

Yesterday, Dr. Hinshaw updated the Province that our provincial cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. In Calgary and Edmonton, she also mandated that private social gatherings must now be limited to 15 people.

At this time, those measures have not been implemented for Chestermere or the other communities surrounding us. 

However, we currently have 40 active cases of COVID-19 in our community. This is the highest case number in our community to date. 

Due to this increase, Council, as the Emergency Management Committee, is considering whether we need to implement more stringent measures to stop the spread of the virus. Not out of fear, but out of common sense to protect our community. 

The evidence says that the spread is most likely happening through personal connections at private gatherings, not generally at grocery stores or at businesses. This means that many people are doing the right things and we do not feel the need to implement a mask bylaw or other measures locally at this time. 

However, we want to echo Dr. Hinshaw’s message that there is no one magic bullet. We must keep doing all the right things to limit the spread in Chestermere. 

That includes washing your hands (frequently), staying home when you are sick, limiting the number of cohorts you are in, wearing a mask when you are in crowded places, limiting your gatherings to small groups, and screening them before they come into your home. It may seem awkward at first, but please, question them because you care. 

Together, if we all do these things, we can limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community. If we lose our focus however, and become lax, our cases will continue to rise and we may see the Province implement more stringent measures in Chestermere, just like they have in Calgary and Edmonton. 

It’s up to us to stop that.

It’s up to all of us to slow the spread. 

Over the coming weeks, and this week especially with Halloween, we will continue to keep a close eye on our cases, any possible outbreaks and the effectiveness of these recommendations. 

And together, we can do it Chestermere. 

Thank you.