COVID-19 update: City of Lacombe now has 10 active cases, on provincial 'watch' list

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced that Albertans will no longer be able to receive their COVID-19 tests through walk-in appointments at assessment centers. Now, people must schedule their COVID-19 test online or by calling Health Link at 8-1-1.

“For most people, this will have no impact on your testing experience. Drop-in testing is only a small part of the testing currently being done… By shifting to a province wide by appointment process, we will make onsite testing quicker and more efficient. We will also reduce crowding in lines and help ensure that everyone is tested as quickly and as safely as possible,” explained Hinshaw.

The doctor also asked that people l inform health officials if they are unable to make appointments because the province is experiencing a high volume of no show rates to their COVID-19 test appointments, especially in the Calgary zone. Additionally, Hinshaw noted that people are becoming increasingly unwilling to sharing information with contact tracers.

“Contact tracers are reporting that an increasing number of people are reluctant to share information about where they have been exposed to the virus, where they have been while infectious, and who they have been in contact with,” said Hinshaw.

The doctor fears that spread will be more difficult to stop if more Albertans attempt to hide information about their whereabouts when they were infectious.

As the months of pandemic response drag on, Dr. Hinshaw is asking Albertans to take extra care with their mental health, hand sanitization, and mask usage in the coming months as more Albertans head indoors to avoid the cold.

“I am asking all Albertans to embrace the challenge of the coming months. I know that many people missed out on the family connections that we usually enjoy this past weekend. There have been many sacrifices that we have had to make these past seven months and while I wish it were possible to end things now, unfortunately we are not there yet.”