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Editorial: Success of Alberta reopening framework is in our hands

Our town, province and country are on the edge of a major precipice as we continue the economic and social recovery from COVID-19. How we move forward will depend on the actions each one of us chooses. Starting on Monday (Feb.
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Our town, province and country are on the edge of a major precipice as we continue the economic and social recovery from COVID-19.

How we move forward will depend on the actions each one of us chooses.

Starting on Monday (Feb. 8) Alberta will begin to slowly reopen activities and services including restaurants and gyms. Alberta's health measure easement framework will rely on different criteria to factor into how easements are rolled out.

Moving forward the metric will look at COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive care admissions, known as lagging indicators, to determine if it is safe to continue reopening. 

The number of new COVID-19 case numbers, the growth rate of the virus and the provincial positivity rate will also play an important role. These numbers are known as leading indicators.

Together these lagging and leading indicators need to continue dropping in order for the province to move forward on the next step of easements. 

If there are any major changes to these factors the province will slow or even halt the easement of health measures.

While it may feel that these factors are beyond our control, we all have a role to play in helping ensure our COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalization rates continue to fall.

The bottom line is the success of the reopening steps lies in the hands of all Albertans.

We all have a role to play in ensuring the rollout can continue and our small businesses can begin an economic recovery and our communities can begin to heal.

We have already found success in Cochrane. 

At one point the Town reported more than 100 active cases of the virus— But, through our collective efforts to keep our friends, family and neighbours safe on Tuesday (Feb. 2) we were able to bring that number down to 10 active cases.

Each day we choose to follow public health measures we are collectively working to keep our communities safe and ensure the province can find success in the economic relaunch.

Our futures are uncertain. We do not know when the pandemic will end or what our new reality will look like.

One of the few places of control we have is our actions and the choices we make.

It is more important than ever to wear a mask, practise social distancing and stay home when sick.

Each time we make this choice we are choosing the safety of our communities and the success of our local businesses.

We can make the choice to be safe and treat others with kindness as we continue to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coming months will be an experience of adversity and hope.

Each time we choose kindness and safety we help ensure our communities will thrive and begin to heal from the fallout of COVID-19.

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