Mayor encouraging residents to keep following guidelines

By Tim Kalinowski on January 6, 2021.

Mayor Chris Spearman speaks with reporters at city hall last fall. Herald file photo by Ian Martens @IMartensHerald

LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge’s active COVID-19 case numbers have been trending in the right direction over the past month, and with only 77 active cases now in the city, (the first time since October there has been less than 100 active cases), Mayor Chris Spearman is encouraging residents to keep those numbers going in the right direction by continuing to follow public health guidelines.

“I think that (being below 100 cases) is good news,” says Spearman, “and I would like to thank the community for their efforts in taking the pandemic seriously, and responding to the recommended restrictions in activities that have been really difficult for everybody. I am frustrated, and I am sure others are as well. We would all like to see our families.

“I would like to spend time with my grandkids and my kids, and that just hasn’t happened in 2020. It has been difficult, and I know other families are feeling the same way.”

Spearman acknowledges recent public anger over reports of UCP members and staffers leaving the country for sunny holidays when most other Albertans stayed home and made sacrifices. But, he says, now is now the time to abandon efforts to continue to curb the pandemic in Lethbridge.

“I think it is a problem,” he admits, “but I would still encourage people to take heart with the progress we have made in the month of December. The reductions (in active cases) that have occurred shows these (measures) are effective. I think we have to emphasize keeping each other safe.”

Spearman acknowledges some have classified what has happened in Edmonton as a “slap in the face” to those adhering to health regulations, and to frontline healthcare workers who have been putting their lives at risk to help out during this pandemic.

But, he says, it is important not to lose sight of what matters: the health and safety of all community members.

“I think it is important to continue to adhere to the public health guidelines and restrictions, and make sure we are doing our best to ensure people are not infected unnecessarily, and we are not spreading it in the community. I am proud of the progress we have made as a community, and I would encourage that progress to continue.”

Lethbridge reached its highest daily total of active cases in early December with 259 cases.

The City confirms no elected city council members have travelled outside of Canada since travel restrictions were enacted in March.

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