NEWS RELEASE: COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS RISING AND CANCELLED SURGERIES, SHANDRO MUST COME OUT OF HIDING .

EDMONTON – With rising hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and more cancelled surgeries, UCP Health Minister Tyler Shandro must address Albertans now that he is back from vacation.

For the second time in a week, elective orthopedic surgeries were cancelled at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Twenty six communities in Alberta currently have bed closures due to staffing shortages, and AHS has invoked emergency provisions in their collective agreement with nurses cancelling vacations and forcing additional overtime. 

“With our healthcare system under enormous strain and the situation deteriorating, Tyler Shandro must come out of hiding and present his plan now that he is back from vacation,” said Health Critic David Shepherd. Health Minister Shandro posted a social media photo of him back at work yesterday, following his summer vacation. 

In addition, over the past twenty four hours, Alberta’s active cases, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions for COVID-19 continued to rise, while the province hit a test positivity rate of ten point five per cent, a level which the Chief Medical Officer had previously described as a “grim milestone and one that should concern us all” during the second wave. 

“Jason Kenney declared the pandemic over, but he was clearly wrong,” said Shepherd, “The UCP has to show up, admit their mistakes, release the modelling that was promised weeks ago, and present a credible plan to address rising cases and hospitalizations.”

The Official Opposition has repeatedly called on the UCP government to present a credible safe schools plan, increase work to bring vaccines to the Albertans wherever they are, and release detailed modelling that was promised weeks ago.