Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Tuesday, Feb. 16

The latest:

• Alberta reported263 new casesof COVID-19 on Tuesday, compared with 251 new casesreported Monday.
• There were 4,993active cases on Tuesday, downfrom5,222the previous day.
• The testingpositivity rate is 5 per cent, up from 4.6per centthe previous day.
• Ninepeople have died,bringing the total number of deaths in the province to1,791.
• There are356people in hospital as of Tuesday, including 56in intensive care.
• The provincewide R-value, which refers to the average number of people infected by each person with the virus, was 0.85, which did not change from the previous day.
• As of Tuesday, the province hasconfirmed a total of 221 cases of people infected withthe coronavirus variants 214of the strain first identified in the U.K. and seven of the strain first identified in South Africa.
• As of Monday, 149,138doses of the vaccine had been administered. There are now approximately 54,024 Albertans who are fully immunized after receiving both doses.
• The Olymel slaughterhouse plant in Red Deer willtemporarily shut down due to arapidly growing COVID-19 outbreak at the facility, the company said Monday.
• Alberta's chief medical officer of health said Tuesdaythe provincechose not to shut down the slaughterhouse because for months the company had been successfully managing the outbreak.
• Darwin Doloque, 35, died of COVID-19 on Jan. 28 after contracting the virus in the outbreak at theslaughterhouse.
• As ofMonday, 326 employees at the plant had tested positive for COVID-19, nearly double the count of 168 on Feb. 6. Of those,192 remain active.
• Calgary police say a video showing an officer shaking the hand of an unmasked, anti-mask protester on Saturdaycaptured the end of a peaceful negotiation with no day-of enforcement despite a number of people breaking Public Health Act rules.
• The incident happenedas dozens of unmasked protesters walked through Chinook Centre to protest public health restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Air travellers landing in Canada will have to quarantine in a hotel, at their own expense, starting Feb. 22for up to 72 hours, according to government sources who spoke with CBC News, with an announcement expected later Friday. Last month, the federal government announced air travellers returning from non-essential trips abroad will have to isolate in a federally mandated facility for up to three dayswhile they await the results of a polymerase chain reaction test, commonly known as aPCR test, at an estimated cost of up to $2,000.
• The hotel stay would be part of themandatory 14-day quarantine period for returning non-essential travellers.
• The tighter federal restrictions and the growing spread of more highly contagious variant strains of coronavirus in other parts of the world, prompted theAlberta government to say Thursday that it wouldsuspend the border testing pilot at the Calgary airportwhen the newrequirements come into effect.
• Starting Monday, all travellersarriving atland border crossings arerequiredto show proof of a negative PCR test completed in the United States within the previous 72 hours in line with new federal rules.
• Border officers can't legally deny entry to Canadians, but those who show up without proof of a test could face fines of up to $3,000.
• About 380,000 public- and private-sector workers such as health-care and social-services workers and education support workers will receiveone-time payments of $1,200 for putting themselves at risk on the job during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alberta governmentannounced on Wednesday.
• However, the new program is leaving some employees and unions frustrated as they puzzle over who is eligible for the cash.

• Calgary isreopening bookings at some municipal arenas and pools that can be booked for one-on-one training or for lessons or practices for minor teams (up to 10 people), but not for games or group exercise, the city said.
• Close to a third of Alberta's active COVID-19 cases have no identified source, sparking concerns that important data could bemissing as the province eases restrictions and at the same time tracks a growing number of variant cases.

See the detailed regional breakdown:

Here is thedetailed regional breakdownof active cases as of Tuesday.

• Calgary zone: 1,887, down from 1,989 reported on Monday(47,245recovered).
• Edmonton zone: 1,333, down from 1,435 (50,507recovered).
• North zone: 737, down from 753(10,076recovered).
• South zone: 344, up from 330(5,811 recovered).
• Central zone: 679, down from 706(8,811recovered).
• Unknown: 13, up from 9(104 recovered).

Find out which neighbourhoods or communities have the most cases, how hard people of different ages have been hit, the ages of people in hospital, how Alberta compares to other provinces and more in: Here are the latest COVID-19 statistics for Alberta and what they mean

Here are the latest Alberta COVID-19 stories:

Alberta didn't shut down slaughterhouse because it had been 'successful' in managing outbreak

Alberta's chief medical officer of health says the provincechose not to shut down a slaughterhouse after weeks of growing cases and one worker death, because for months the company had been successfully managing the outbreak.

On Monday, Quebec-based Olymel voluntarily closed its Red Deer, Alta., pork processing plant. It saidthat due to the growing outbreak it could no longer manage operations in a safe and efficient manner. It was an abrupt change of position, telling CBC News hours earlier it had planned to remain open.

Alberta Health Services and Occupational Health and Safety were not involved in that decision, and both had approved the plant to continue operating.

As of Tuesday, there were 343 cases of COVID-19 linked to the current outbreak, 200 of which were active.

On Jan. 28 more than two weeks ago Darwin Doloque, a 35-year-old employee at the plant,died of COVID-19 linked to the workplace outbreak.

"It's important to remember this particular plant has had sporadic cases, one or two at a time, for several months, and the processes that had been put in place at the plant site had been very successful in reducing spread,"Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday.

Formore, see:Alberta didn't shut down slaughterhouse because it had been 'successful' in managing outbreak

One week after restrictions eased, Alberta reports 263 new COVID-19 cases

Alberta eased some restrictions a week ago, but it'stoo early to say what impact those changes are having, said Dr. DeenaHinshaw, chief medical officer of health.

Evidence shows that social gatheringsare responsible thehighest rates of transmission, she said, noting the provincesaw its lastspikes following Thanksgiving and Halloween holiday season get-togethers.

"This sacrifice [the restrictionon gatherings] has had the biggest impact on reducing spread in the province, relieving the pressure on the health-care system and getting us to the point that we are at today," Hinshaw said.

"We cannot become complacent now, especially with the arrival of variants of concern in our province."

Provincial labs completed 5,216 tests on Monday, with a positivity rate of about five per cent, which is higher than in previous days.

"This is an increase fromwhere we have been in the past few weeks, which is concerning," Hinshaw said of that rate. "It is possible this increase is because of changes in who went for testing over the long weekend. So we will be watching closely in the days to come to see if this is an isolated finding or a concerning trend."

The province now has a total of 221 cases of two faster-spreadingvariant strains of the virus. Of those cases, 214 arethe B117 variant first identified in the United Kingdom and seven are the variant first detected in South Africa.

"I know that many Albertans are concerned about these variants, andI am, too,"Hinshawsaid Tuesday at anews conference.

"I am particularly concerned about thegrowing number of cases that are not linked to travel. Though many of these cases are the results of close contacts that we have identified through robust contact tracing."

Calgary police say officer shook anti-masker's hand for agreeing to peacefully end protest

Calgary police say a video showing an officer shaking the hand of an unmasked, anti-mask protester captured the end of a peaceful negotiation with no day-of enforcement despite a number of people breaking Public Health Act rules.

On Saturday, dozens of unmasked protesters walked through Chinook Centre to protest public health restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Videos of the event posted to social media show police officers escorting the protesters, and one officer shaking an unmaskedprotester's hand and leaning in close, with an arm around the man's shoulder,as the two converse.

Police said in a release on Monday evening that members from its public safety unit, beat teams and diversity resources team were in attendance, and that the diversity resources team negotiated with the protesters to ensure they left the mall peacefully.

"At the end of this negotiation, a handshake was offered and accepted. Another protester was nearby speaking into a bullhorn so the officer leaned in closer to hear what is being said," police said.

Shortly after, the protesters left the mall, police said.

"Our role at demonstrations such as these is to ensure public and officer safety, and for this reason, it is sometimes better to follow through with enforcement action post event. We commit to investigating the full scope of events in the coming days to determine what enforcement action may be taken."

For more, see:Calgary police say officer shook anti-masker's hand for agreeing to peacefully end protest

A look at where CERB payments went at beginning of pandemic

Federal data, obtained through the Access to Information Act by The Canadian Press, provides the most detailed picture yet of where billions of dollars in emergency aid went last year.

CERB paid out nearly $82 billion to 8.9 million people during its lifetime, paid out to those who lost their jobs or had their hours slashed.

CERB usage appearedhigher in urban areas with higher COVID-19 counts, like Calgary's northeast.

"These are real worries and challenges that members of my community have been facing throughout a pandemic," said Calgary Coun. George Chahal.

For more, see:A closer look at where $82 billion in CERB payments went at the beginning of the pandemic

COVID-19 in long-term care under Alberta auditor's microscope

Alberta's auditor general will examine how the Alberta government managed billions of dollars in extra federal funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, according toan audit plan for 2021-22posted on theauditor's website.

"In identifying potential areas to audit, our office will continue to look at areas of highest risk and importance, including programs and services that impact vulnerable citizens, and investments and activities designed to leverage economic recovery," the audit plan reads.

The auditor will alsoscrutinize the province's management of the pandemic in long-term care and supported living.

For more, see:Opioid crisis, COVID-19 in long-term care under Alberta auditor's microscope

CEO of Calgary drug company speaks with Ottawa

Providence Therapeutics CEO Brad Sorenson says he has been approached by the federal governmentabout his company's made-in-Calgary vaccine.

Sorensontold CBC NewsNetwork'sPower & Politicsthat thisis the first time a COVID-19 vaccine designed and manufactured in Canada has begun trials.

Providence Therapeutics CEO says he's meeting with Industry minister Saturday

4 years ago

Duration 2:49

Providence Therapeutics CEO Brad Sorenson speaks to Power & Politics after striking a deal for the company's vaccines with the Manitoba government.

He said the office of Science and Industry Minister Franois-Philippe Champagneapproached Providence Therapeuticsaboutthe vaccine.

"We've heard from a number of premiers, and I'm happy to report that I was approached by Minister Champagne's office to have a discussion with him," he said.

For more, see:CEO of Canadian drug company says Ottawa has approached him about his firm's made-in-Canada vaccine

Alberta ends border testing program at Calgary airport

Alberta has ended its border pilot program at the Calgary airport asnew federal restrictions have comeinto place.

"Thanks to the testing processes already in place because of our border pilot, Alberta's labs are well positioned to support this new federal requirement," Dr. Deena Hinshaw said.

The border pilot at the Coutts border entry, meanwhile, will continue until a decision is made by the federal government on whether additional restrictions are needed at land border crossings, Hinshaw said.

On Monday, Alberta beganrequiringalltravellers arriving at land border crossings to show proof of a negative PCR test completed in the United States within the previous 72 hours.

For more, see:Alberta changing rules to require negative COVID-19 tests at international border crossings

• For the latest on what's happening in the rest of Canada and around the world, seehere.