The number of active cases of COVID-19 is down again today (July 30) in the City of Airdrie.  

Figures released by Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw show that there are now 22 active cases of the virus among Airdronians, a drop of two from Wednesday.  Recoveries also went up by a corresponding number to a total of 55.

In Rocky View County however, the news is not as good.  There are now  six more active cases for a total of 27.  48 people have recovered in RVC.  

Across the province, 9,113 Albertans have now recovered from COVID-19. The active cases rose once again with 113 added today for a total of 1,408.  

There are currently 91 people in hospital, 18 of whom are in intensive care.  Five more residents of the Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre were the only Albertans to pass away from COVID today bringing the cumulative number in the province to 195.  21 deaths have now occurred at this one care facility.  

8,670 tests for the virus were completed in the past 24 hours To date labs have performed 676,913 tests on Albertans. 

Today, Hinshaw announced expanded asymptomatic testing in Alberta pharmacies. after a pilot project at a select group of them.  "This pilot was initially kept small to allow us to refine the process," Hinshaw explains.  She says the project was a success, testing more than 10,000 asymptomatic patients in the past month.  Now the project is being expanded to any pharmacy that wants to conduct tests and can meet the safety requirements.  Only people with no symptoms and no known exposure to COVID-19 can be tested at a pharmacy. 

Hinshaw also commented on the upcoming Heritage Day holiday weekend, saying while she understands people's excitement to get outside, she is warning against events that could further the spread of the virus, like what happened over the Canada Day weekend.  "This is not the only reason our case numbers have risen, but it has played a part," Hinshaw says.  "I would like to encourage all Albertans to take precautions while celebrating this weekend,"  She says COVID-19 won't take a break just because it's a holiday.

Finally, Hinshaw was pressured by several reporters over whether or not she had ever recommended making mask use mandatory, particularly for students who are going back to the classroom in September, to the Alberta government.  Hinshaw says that she has made it clear that  she wholeheartedly supports the wearing of masks and believes it is an important addition to, but not a replacement of, public health guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19.   However after being asked by reporters several times she finally said she has never formally recommended mask use to the government, preferring to leave it up to individual municipalities to make the right decision based on the case numbers in their jurisdiction.

She says health officials will continue to closely monitor the situation and update the guidance for schools based on the best evidence available as it applies to masks and other safety precautions.  

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