Concerns about COVID-19 raised after video shows crowding at the Chinook Center

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Alberta is in the midst of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, having recorded more than 1,000 new infections a day in the past 10 days, including a record 1,731 cases reported on Saturday.

The Alberta government released on Tuesday a series of new measures designed to combat the rise in the number of cases, including at companies.

According to Alberta Health, retail operations within malls, as well as malls themselves, can remain open with a capacity limited to 25% of their number of fire occupants.

It is the responsibility of shopping center owners to ensure that a process is in place to meet that capacity limit, the province said.

In a statement on Saturday, Cadillac Fairview, the company that owns and operates the Chinook Center, said it has been working to combat crowding in the wake of government restrictions.

“The health and safety of our community of guests, customers and employees is our primary concern and we continue to follow the lead of all levels of government and public health officials,” the company said.

“As for the province of Alberta’s new restrictions on shopping malls, we have been actively monitoring capacity levels during the holiday shopping season.”

A Calgary police representative reached Saturday said officers attended the mall on Friday and escorted a group of customers out of the building.

No charges were made, as police said the focus was on public safety and education, but added that if the same people crowded the mall again, fines would be imposed. Officers maintained a presence at the mall on Saturday.