4 new COVID-19 outbreaks declared in Calgary include lounge, restaurant

The province declared four new COVID-19 outbreaks Friday in Calgary, including a lounge, downtown restaurant and long-term care facility.

Outbreaks within continuing care facilities are reported when there are two or more cases, while outbreaks at other facilities are reported publicly when there are five or more cases.

Alberta reported 105 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 859.

Fire N Ice Lounge

The new outbreaks include the Fire N IceLounge on 16th Avenue S.W., which is linked to 12 cases, all of which are active.

The bar and sheeshalounge drew a number of public complaints recently, leading Alberta Health Services and the City of Calgary to visit the business during the past week and weekend.

"An order relating to the need for following social distancing practices was issued to the owners on July 15," saidKerry Williamson, a spokesperson with AHS, in an email. "AHS environmental public health officials met with the owners today to explain the seriousness of the complaints and the order requirements."

"AHS and its partners will continue to monitor the activities at the business to ensure measures are in place to protect the health of patrons and staff."

Williamson said the business remains open at this time.

Requests for comment by CBC News to the Fire N Ice Lounge were not immediately returned Friday.

WATCH | Learn why health officials from across Canada are voicing concern as the majority of new COVID-19 cases are found in people under 40:

Most of Canadas new COVID-19 cases in people under 40

4 years ago

Duration 2:03

Health officials are voicing concern as the majority of new COVID-19 cases are being found in people under the age of 40, especially as more bars and restaurants open for indoor service.

Cactus Club restaurant

Six cases were reported at the Cactus Club restaurant on Stephen Avenue on Wednesday. An outbreak has now been declared by Alberta Health at that location.

On Wednesday, the company said it had voluntarily closed the location to conduct a deep clean and planned to reopen next week.

"The safety and well-being of our guests and employees is our number one priority," reads a statement from the company.

"While [Alberta Health Services] has not mandated it, we have decided to voluntarily close this location out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health of everyone."

2 additional outbreaks

The Trinity Lodge continuing care facility, located in southwestCalgary, is now linked to five cases, according to Alberta Health.

"Residents of a continuing care site are given priority in terms of testing. It's important to remember that testing is only one part of the outbreak protocols put in place," said Alberta Health spokesperson Tom McMillan in a statement.

"This includes isolating residents,strict infection prevention and control measures, resident and staff screening, and enhanced cleaning must be done multiple times every day, and visitors to the site are strictly limited."

CBC News has reached out to representatives with the Trinity Lodge for comment.

The fourth new outbreak is a Calgary private gatheringwith 18 cases, all of which are active. No additional information about that outbreak was immediately available.

COVID-19 'watches' declared

On Thursday, Alberta Healthdeclared Calgary-Centre and Calgary-Elbow under "watch"for COVID-19 meaning the areas had risen above 50 active cases per 100,000 people.

Speaking during a press conference, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the city was "trending in the wrong direction."

Nenshi added that Calgary-Centre and Calgary-Elbow are areas with many bars and restaurants where young people tend to congregate.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, has specifically cited the demographic of those under 40 in Alberta, noting that those individuals now make upthe majority of Alberta's active COVID-19 cases.

The province has now seentwo straight days of triple-digit growth in COVID-19 cases.More than half of the active cases, 455, are of unknown origin.

• 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