Premier Jason Kenney announced another 56 cases of COVID-19 in Alberta, bringing the total to 542 cases across the province. There were no new cases in the South Zone.
Kenney also introduced new measures to limit the spread of the virus.
The maximum size of group gathering is immediately reduced to 15, this includes family gatherings and religious celebrations. The two-metre social distancing guidelines must be observed. The province is also closing vehicle access to provincial parks and public lands.
Dine-in services must now cease at restaurants. Takeout and drive-thru services remain acceptable.
All non-essential retail stores must close, clothing, computer and gaming, hobby and toy, gift and specialty and furniture stores. All are subject to the enhanced penalties announced yesterday.
Furthermore, salons and barber shops, tattoo and piercing studios and aesthetics and wellness studios and clinics Must close immediately. The same goes for non-essential medical procedures such as dentistry, physiotherapy, massage, optometry and chiropractic services.
A detailed explanation of the new mass gathering restrictions, including maximum numbers, how restaurants, cafes, and bars, personal services, and recreation facilities are affected and risk mitigation strategies is available here.
Tough but necessary to protect public health.
Kenney called the measures “tough but necessary to protect public health.”
The premier also announced that no Albertans will be evicted on April 1 due to an inability to pay rent. Alberta is one of the last provinces to make that decision.
Civil enforcement of evictions currently underway will be suspended until April 30. The province is also freezing rent increases while Alberta’s state of public health emergency is in effect, including increases that were scheduled months ago. Fees for late payments over the next three months will be suspended.
Landlords will be obliged to negotiate payment plans that accommodate renters’ financial circumstances. Renters will be obliged to pay as fully and consistently as possible. Both parties will be obliged to take into account financial supports in place from federal and provincial governments.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw revealed that 42 of the total number of cases in the province are suspected to be from community transmission. Twenty-three Albertans are being treated in hospital, 10 of those in the ICU. Thirty-three people have recovered, an increase of six from yesterday.
Hinshaw went on to say that across Canada more than half of all new cases are linked to spread in the community.
“Stronger intervention measures are needed now to slow the spread of this virus”
“Stronger intervention measures are needed now to slow the spread of this virus,” she said.
More measures are being introduced to protect health-care workers as preparations continue for an expected influx of cases.
The province is postponing any diagnostic imaging procedures that are considered non-urgent to limit the potential for spread within imaging facilities. The province is also stopping non-essential and routine laboratory testing is to free up lab spaces for COVID-19 testing.
Hinshaw took a moment to stress that anyone who falls ill with COVID-19 symptoms or any other illness have not done anything wrong and should not be treated as if they should be punished.
“I urge you to reach out to those you know who are feeling unwell and try to support them perhaps by texting, calling or dropping off food,” she said.
“The future of this pandemic is in all of our hands we have a say in how COVID-19 will impact our province,” Hinshaw closed. “It seems small but wash your hands regularly, stay home if you’re feeling sick and stay away from others even in your own household if you are not feeling well.”
The full March 26 release from the province can be found here
