COVID-19

Organizers of one of Cochrane's most beloved events have made the difficult decision to host a virtual event, once again. 

Cochrane Light Up was virtual last year and it will be again this year. 

Cochrane Light Up Organizer, Stephenie Shelstad says the decision to go virtual was not an easy one. "It was extremely tough, I am a frontline worker and working in the throes of COVID right now and just with the age group that is unvaccinated. I know it's an outdoor event, but it's a huge event and everybody is still very close."

Leadership of the Kenora Catholic District School Board is pushing the Ontario government to mandate that all education staff should receive the COVID-19 vaccine to prevent further outbreaks, school closures and disruptions to in-person learning.

Albertans 18 and older have a new incentive to get the jab.

Earlier this month, the province announced a prefilled $100 debit card for those who receive a first or second dose between September 3 and October 14 in an effort to increase vaccination numbers

Vaccinated Albertans can go to alberta.ca/VaccineDebitCard to register after their shot.

Cards will be distributed by CIBC on behalf of the Alberta government after Alberta Health validates registrations against provincial immunization data.

This morning (Sept. 13), nine of Alberta's post-secondary institutions announced that vaccines will be required for those attending their campuses.

The Premier says Albertans have the right to protest peacefully but the full weight of the Critical Infrastructure Act could be used if protestors block hospitals.

Jason Kenney has released a statement on today's planned protests saying they must in no way obstruct the important operations of hospitals, including the arrival and departure of emergency vehicles and workers, adding that blocking an ambulance is most definitely not a peaceful protest.

Alberta Health is taking its vaccination campaign up a notch with more mobile clinics.

In an effort to make vaccines as easily accessible as possible, they started doing mobile clinics in July with a focus on hard-to-reach populations, worksites, rural communities, and anywhere they thought vaccination numbers might be lower.

Their next tour spans a five-day period from September 13-17 with stops in Calgary, Edmonton, Jasper, Edson, and Fort Saskatchewan.

Beginning September 13, 2021, the City of Fort St. John will be required to verify proof of vaccination using the BC Vaccine Card for certain discretionary activities.

As we have throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City must, under Provincial Health Orders, continue to follow the Provincial Health Officer and Northern Health guidance and directions, including these new requirements.

As of September 12, 2021 the City of Grande Prairie has 489 active cases of COVID-19, and the County of Grande Prairie has 174 cases.

Cases of COVID-19 across the rest of the province sit at 18,395 active cases. 

Hospitalizations are currently at 803, and a total of 198 Albertans are in intensive care receiving treatment. 

COVID-19 numbers continue to rise at an alarming rate in Alberta.

Since Friday, another 4,740 new cases of the virus have been reported in Alberta.

Friday saw 1,659, Saturday 1,497 and Sunday 1,584 new cases.

There are 117 more patients being treated in the hospital making for a total of 803.

The ICU admissions increased by 29 since Friday for a total of 198. Of those cases, 90.4 per cent are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. 

Another 18 deaths have been reported bringing the total deaths in the province to 2,462.

New school-based COVID vaccine clinics are set to start soon, but officials are still finishing their homework on how COVID-19 exposures in schools will be shared with the public.

The new school year is ringing in new COVID-19 practices across provincial schools. While older practices such as exposure notices are not yet finalized for the new year, there are plans to offer COVID-19 vaccines in schools for youth.