Calgary Mayor considering a curfew following spike in COVID cases

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – One measure announced by the province on Thursday in response to the rise of COVID-19 cases is the possibility of imposing a curfew on the hardest-hit communities.

When it comes to Calgary, Mayor Naheed Nenshi says a curfew isn’t entirely out of the question.

If a region has more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 people, then a curfew can be requested, but the province would have to give final approval.

The measures announced yesterday don’t really change much for Calgary, even though the city has the most active cases in the whole province.

Currently, Calgary does not meet the threshold to request a curfew.

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“I am not entirely convinced a curfew– as we are getting into long summer evenings and we want people to go outside and get some fresh air–is a specific enough tool. But I will certainly look at the evidence to do and as always I will not hesitate to do what needs to be done to keep people safe,” added Nenshi.

Nenshi says we cannot depend on the government to make decisions on how to slow the spread of the virus.

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“To just now to go back to the discipline that we had a year ago. Stay home as much as you can. You should be working from home,” said Nenshi.

The Town of Banff and Fort McMurray are both over the threshold but are asking the province for more information before requesting a curfew.

“God forbid the province should make a decision, but it seems that they would want to put that decision onto the municipalities.”

Curfews have been in place for many areas in Eastern Canada, but studies are mixed on how effective they are.

“Limit your trips outside, your shopping trips, limit them in duration and in frequency to only essential items. Strictly limit contact with people outside of your household,” said Nenshi.