Edmonton mayor urges residents to follow COVID 19 rules despite vacation outrage

EDMONTON – Mayor Don Iveson is urging residents to keep following COVID-19 rules, despite growing outrage over some provincial politicians and staff ignoring advice not to travel.

Several Alberta legislature members, including Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard, have admitted they travelled out of the country over the holidays.

Iveson says many Edmontonians are justifiably angry about the news.

But he says it’s not an excuse to flout the public-health rules _ even out of frustration.

Iveson notes that Edmonton is the hardest hit city in the province and COVID-19 is still a “clear and present danger,” lives are at risk and the health-care system is under enormous pressure.

He urges all Edmontonians to continue taking the pandemic seriously to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“I, like most of you, stayed home this holiday season,” he wrote in a Twitter post. “I did not gather with family and friends and followed ? public health directives.

“I commend Edmontonians who did the same _ your sacrifices and diligence have made a difference to case counts. Thank you for your leadership and civic-mindedness.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 4, 2021.