CALGARY 鈥� Alberta's health minister says it was the idea of the province's chief medical health officer to end isolation requirements for those who test positive for COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with someone who has.
Tyler Shandro said Dr. Deena Hinshaw came to the government with the plan. He said the government agreed with science and data supporting it and wanted to respect the independence of her position.聽
鈥淚t came from Dr. Hinshaw,鈥� Shandro said Thursday when asked about the province's strategy. 鈥淭his is work that was developed by those who are in public health."
He acknowledged concerns about moving forward so quickly. 鈥淲e have many different opinions in the medical community and that鈥檚 to be expected and that鈥檚 encouraged.鈥�
He also said that while Alberta is alone in Canada in the approach, others will eventually follow suit.聽
"We are leading the way in moving to the endemic (phase of the COVID-19) response. We've led the way throughout in the response to the pandemic quite frankly."
Hinshaw has always said she presents scientific evidence, numbers and trends, but the final decision on how to respond to pandemic developments lies with the government.
Close contacts of positive cases are no longer notified of exposure by contact tracers, nor are they required to isolate. The government has also ended asymptomatic testing.
As of Aug. 16, individuals who test positive won't be legally required to isolate either 鈥� although it will still be recommended. Isolation hotels will close and quarantine supports will end.聽
Reaction to Hinshaw's announcement Wednesday was swift and critical 鈥� much of it on Twitter. Opposition politicians, the medical community and private citizens all weighed in.
On Thursday, Dr. Daniel Gregson, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Calgary, said the government's decision to end mandated isolation is irresponsible.聽
鈥淭he message we鈥檙e sending is that if you have an infection with COVID, or think you might have an infection with COVID, you can do whatever you want," said Gregson. "I would not agree with that."
He said a fourth wave is inevitable, primarily among young and healthy individuals. 鈥淲e are going to see a bump in our hospitalizations. The question is how much?鈥澛�
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it's inconceivable Alberta is eliminating almost all of its remaining COVID-19 public health orders as cases climb in the province.
"It is the height of insanity," Nenshi said.
"It is putting the health of Albertans at risk to stop contact tracing, to stop testing people for the coronavirus and to become one of the first 鈥� if not the first 鈥� jurisdictions in the world to say that people who have tested positive, who are infectious, can just go about their lives."
Nenshi said if he were in another jurisdiction he would contemplate travel restrictions on Albertans starting Aug. 16.聽
"I'm aware of no science that backs this up," he said. "Even the most fervent of the anti-maskers wouldn't say (to) unleash people who are actually infectious into the population."
Nenshi said he worries the decision to lift the orders is politically motivated and has nothing to do with science.
Rida Abboud also questioned the province's motives.聽
Abboud, who teaches at Calgary's Mount Royal University and has a child starting kindergarten in the fall, said the United Conservatives are taking a gamble and the odds aren't in their favour.
"I feel like I'm sending my child into the COVID Wild Wild West," said Abboud. "It really feels like this government has no interest whatsoever in supporting families in ... diminishing the risks to anyone under the age of 12 who can't get vaccinated."
She's also worried about returning to the classroom come September. Abboud said poorly ventilated rooms and teaching an age cohort with lower vaccination rates is concerning, especially as it will be unknown who's infected.聽
"This government likes to gamble on a lot of different approaches. They've lost in many ways and this is, I think, unfortunately, another one," she said. "It's just so shocking and saddening that it's on the backs of parents and women, in particular."聽
Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley urged the government to reverse course with necessary resources.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 fair to Albertans. It鈥檚 not fair for them to be exposed and not know,鈥� Notley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also quite reasonable to keep asking Albertans who are infected to stay home until they are no longer contagious."
She said the changes will do little to encourage uptake of vaccines.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2021.
鈥� With files from Dean Bennett in Edmonton
Bill Graveland and Alanna Smith, The Canadian Press
