Chestermere hit 21 active cases of COVID-19 this week. Find out what Mayor Chalmers has to say about our current cases in this video:

Transcript: 

Hello Chestermere, 

This week, we hit 21 active cases of COVID-19 in our community. This is the highest spike in cases since the pandemic began. Chestermere has been placed on a watch list by the Province due to this increase. 

CHEMA, the Chestermere Emergency Management Agency, has been keeping a close eye on the case numbers. We have been in contact with Alberta Health Services to determine the nature of this increase and discuss ways to prevent the spread of the virus. At this time, AHS indicates that the vast majority of these cases are linked to known cases, meaning that people have been transmitting the virus among families and within social circles. 

In addition to 21 active cases, we have now had over 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Chestermere residents. These are troubling milestones. 

We are over six months into COVID-19. And I recognize that many people are tired of the measures in place.

But we must remain vigilant. 

Our top medical experts continue to say that the pandemic will be with us for many months to come. It is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. With this marathon, we need to recognize that we will get tired, but it doesn’t mean we can quit. 

Please, continue to stay home when you are sick. Wash your hands frequently. Use hand sanitizer when you can’t. Keep gatherings small. Stay 2 meters apart from someone who isn’t part of your household or cohort. Wear a mask when you are in crowded places. If you get sick, get tested. If you have a positive result, you must quarantine for 14 days, as mandated by the Province. And be kind to one another. 

We, as a community, have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic very well so far this year. We want to keep services open, and keep events, sports and activities happening, with COVID measures safely in place. We do not currently have a mandatory mask bylaw in place, and we would like to keep it that way. 

I have every confidence that we can continue to do so in the weeks ahead, if we all do our part. 

Please join me in a renewed commitment to doing your part to stop the spread. 

Together, we can do it, Chestermere.