Northeast residents feel unfairly targeted after Premier calls out community over COVID-19 spread

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Alberta’s premier is calling on Calgary’s northeast to control the spread of COVID-19, pointing out it has more cases than anywhere else in the province.

However, residents in those communities are worried about being targeted.

Premier Jason Kenney recently spoke on Good Morning Calgary with Rishid Nagar, a Punjab program on RED FM, saying he’s not trying to point any fingers but northeast Calgary has the highest case spread in the province and it needs to change.

“We must, must have people understand the new law is no social functions at home. No family or friends visiting at home who are not part of your immediate household. We see a very high level of spread of COVID-19 in the South Asian community. I don’t say that to blame or target anyone.”

But people who live in the northeast are worried they are being blamed for something out of their control saying there’s a list of reasons why the area is seeing more spread than others.

WATCH: The personal and professional lives behind those living in the northeast, where infection rates are ‘out of hand’

Most who live there are blue-collar workers, cleaners, taxi drivers, factory workers who can’t work from home, meaning they’re more exposed to the virus than those who can stay home and work.

The argument is also being made that some cultural factors are contributing. Many northeast households include extended family living there and could have around half dozen or more people in the same house.

Many are not taking kindly to Kenney’s comments, voicing displeasure on social media.

One user said the Premier is unfairly targeting the South Asian community while failing to address the anti-mask protests over the weekend.

https://twitter.com/_ritikananda/status/1333103033899651073

Opposition NDP leader Rachel Notley is also not impressed with Kenney saying “Serious and important questions are being raised about the Premier’s comments about the South Asian community over the weekend and his complete silence about an anti-mask protest in Calgary”

Serious and important questions are being raised about the Premier's comments about the South Asian community over the weekend and his complete silence about an anti-mask protest in Calgary. #ableg #yyc #abhealth #covid19https://t.co/yKUoHKFfsK

— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) November 30, 2020