There is some irony in the fact that my cautious optimism last week was followed by three days with new cases counts over 100. It is a reminder that COVID continues to be with us, and we cannot turn our backs on this virus, said Dr. Deena Hinshaw. We all need to make wise decisions every day that make life safer, regardless of whether case numbers are rising or falling at any given time.

Hinshaw addressed some of the most common questions she hears, including size of cohorts as school begins.

She said there is no single answer to that question.

We do know that the more people you come in contact with, the greater your risk of exposure, she said. Parents, guardians and family members should look at their cohorts and assess if they are comfortable with the current size or if they need to shrink it as school begins.

She recommended anyone in doubt should shrink their cohort for the first few weeks, then reassessing once the routines of school have been established.

As for COVIDs impact on pets, Hinshaw said theres limited research but that there have been very few reports of domestic animals testing positive for COVID-19.

She said those have occurred in pets who have been in contact with people who tested positive for the virus.

At this time, there is no evidence that domestic animals can transmit the disease to humans, she said.

For masks, Hinshaw recommended clean cloth masks be stored in a sealed and clean storage bag in a dry area.

If the mask becomes damp or soiled, it should be put into a separate breathable bag and taken home for washing, she said. When it comes time to clean them, empty the bags into the washing machine. Consider using a bag that can also be washed at the same time. Generally speaking, warm water is better but follow whatever directions are recommended for washing your masks material.

Another common concern, said Hinshaw, is how long it takes for notification of positive test results. She said that is currently two days.

This too long. We have put some measures in place and are working on more to reduce this wait time and speed up other components of the testing process in the coming weeks, said the chief medical officer of health, urging anyone who is feeling ill and has been tested to stay home, away from family and cohort members until test results return.

There are 66 Albertans currently in hospital due to COVID-19, 14 of which are in ICU. There are a total of 213 deaths, an increase of five.

The province conducted 26,357 tests over the weekend.

The South Zone has a total of 1,695 cases 1,614 recovered, an increase of 37, and 61 active, a decrease of 29.

There are seven people in the zone in hospital, four of which are in ICU, and there have been 20 deaths.

Cypress County has totalled 31 cases all recovered.

The County of Forty Mile has 19 total cases, seven active cases and 12 recovered.

The MD of Taber has 37 total cases three active and 34 recovered.

Special Areas No. 2 has one active case and 14 recovered.

Brooks has 1,123 total cases 1,114 are recovered and there are none considered active. Brooks has recorded nine deaths. The County of Newell has a total of 28 cases five active, 22 recovered one death. Its the first death reported in the county.

The County of Warner has 54 total cases. There are now 53 recovered cases in addition to one previously reported death in the county.

The City of Lethbridge has a total of 141 cases. Of those, 23 are listed as active and 116 recovered and there have been two deaths there. Lethbridge County has 28 cases, two active cases and 26 recovered.

The figures on alberta.ca are up-to-date as of end of day Aug. 9, 2020.

Saskatchewan reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, one in the South Zone.

Saskatchewan has a total of 1,450 cases, 165 considered active. There are 1,265 recovered cases and there have been 20 COVID-19 deaths in the province.

Read more:

Second COVID-19 death in Medicine Hat - CHAT News Today