Canada: Alberta plans to send COVID-19 teams to hard-hit areas in Edmonton, Calgary

According to public health data, said Kenney some areas of the province such as northeast Calgary, and nine areas in Edmonton — Northeast Edmonton, Northgate, Castle Downs, Woodcroft West, Jasper Place, Woodcroft East, Eastwood, Abbotsfield and Mill Woods West continue to experience very high rates of transmission.

"Albertans in these particular communities are at high risk of COVID-19... residents of these communities often have public-facing jobs which may make them more susceptible to community transmission," said Kenney.

Materials and clarification about public health orders in the languages people speak in those areas would be provided by the COVID-19 care teams, Kenney said, as well as hand out care packages with masks, hand sanitizer and relevant information, and social supports.

"These heaviest-hit neighborhoods tend to be lower incomes areas...Many of these families also have English language barriers," said Kenney and added that as part of this community campaign people will be eligible for temporary emergency payments of $625 once they have completed their self-isolation at one of the designated hotels.

The  Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccination program started on Dec 15 and Kenney said that it has to run impartially and objectively, based on decisions made by experts, the premier said, and added,

"No minister, no MLA, nobody involved in the political side of government should be picking up any phone to say that so-and-so should be jumping this queue."

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)