Alberta’s former top doctor responds to rodeo near Bowden

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Alberta’s former chief medical officer of health, Dr. James Talbot, is responding to a rodeo that took place over the weekend near the town of Bowden.

The event garnering a reaction from many top officials to begin the week, including Alberta premier Jason Kenney, who called the event a “slap in the face” to everyone following the public health orders.

Dr. Talbot said he was saddened to see pictures of the rodeo, and he believes it will be a super spreader event.

He says even those who don’t get sick with COVID-19 could still face consequences.

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“Four weeks from now, there’s a possibility that if you’re in that area and you’re pregnant and have a complication, or have a heart attack, or you have a child who’s seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision, you’re not going to be able to get care,” he said.

On top of concerns regarding health care, Talbot says the premiers of other provinces are likely watching what’s happening in Alberta, and asking themselves a couple of questions.

“One, is there a possibility that people from Alberta could undo all the hard work we’ve done by coming into the province and transmitting, and the answer would be yes because ours isn’t under control,” he said.

“And, the second question you’d have to ask yourself is, what are the odds that if they come in they’ll obey the rules that we have.”