Less than three weeks out from its highly anticipated Fall Money Fair, the Calgary Numismatic Society (CNS) has cancelled the two-day event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
CNS officials made the announcement on Sept. 1 as Alberta once again became the national COVID-19 hotspot with 7,571 confirmed cases in the preceding seven days. For comparison, within the same timeframe (Aug. 27-Sept. 1), Ontario reported 4,909 new cases while British Columbia was a close third at 4,884 new cases.
“Due to rapidly rising case counts of the delta variant of COVID in Alberta, the club executive considers it an irresponsible risk to both our dealers and our fellow collectors to go ahead with our show,” said CNS President Trevor Phillips. “Please understand we are highly frustrated with the current circumstances that are forcing our decision in this direction, as we too have want lists and sales we may want to make with other collectors.”
Alberta entered the ‘fourth wave’ of the pandemic in mid-July. Photo via health-infobase.canada.ca.
As recently as mid-August, show organizers were anticipating Alberta’s public health restrictions to be lifted – as scheduled – on Aug. 16; however, with the rising caseload and spread of the delta variant, chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced the restrictions would remain in place for another six weeks, until Sept. 27.
On Sept. 1 alone, the province reported 1,315 new cases, its highest daily total since May 13. With 12,141 tests performed, the provincial positivity rate exceeded 11 per cent. As of Sept. 1, Alberta continues to lead the country with 12,290 active cases, including more than 3,300 in Calgary, where the Fall Money Fair would have been held, and more than 3,800 in Edmonton.
An ongoing project by the B.C. COVID-19 Modelling Group, organized by various epidemiologists, mathematicians and data analysts, has found new COVID-19 cases could climb to 6,000 a day by the beginning of October.
In his first public appearance since early August, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said his government might explore new public health restrictions due to the rise in cases.
“If we do see this wave jeopardizing the healthcare system, we may have to take some very targeted actions—but nothing like lockdowns,” Kenney said on Sept. 1.