Area COVID-19 cases rise

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The COVID-19 virus remains active in Strathmore and Wheatland County, with eight active cases in Strathmore and 47 active cases in Wheatland County as of July 28.

One person in Strathmore has died due to COVID-19. 

While cases of COVID-19 were reported in Siksika Nation in June and July, the outbreak there has subsided – on July 22, Siksika Nation administration reported no active cases in Siksika.

Two weeks ago, Wheatland County was added to the province’s COVID-19 watch list which is a status given to any jurisdiction that surpasses 50 active cases per 100,000 individuals. This threshold is arbitrary and is simply one point on a spectrum of local risk, explained Tom McMillan, spokesperson with Alberta Health Services. 

The watch designation is an indicator that health officials are monitoring the risk and discussing with the local administration and other community leaders the possible need for additional health measures, he stated in an email. No additional public health measures are being implemented at this time.

The province cannot comment on the location or nature of specific cases due to patient confidentiality, said McMillan. 

However, cases are largely linked to known contacts and gatherings. In each case, health officials conduct contact tracing and anyone at risk of exposure is contacted, isolated and tested, he said. Anyone at risk is contacted directly.

Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule discussed the town’s ongoing response to the virus during a July 23 Facebook Live address. 

“We continue to monitor the situation, and our team is prepared to take additional actions if the need arises,” he said, adding the town’s emergency command centre can be “up and running” in a day.

The City of Calgary passed first reading of a bylaw to require face masks be worn in public transit and indoor spaces on July 21. The bylaw is expected to come into effect on Aug. 1.

The Town of Strathmore is not pursuing a mandatory mask bylaw at this time, said Fule. 

“However, as the service centre for this region, we are paying close attention to the increasing numbers (of cases), and this step shall be our first step should it be required.” Town council is encouraging mask use in Strathmore, he said.

Reeve Amber Link was contacted to ask whether Wheatland County is considering a mandatory mask bylaw, but no response was provided.