Staff to be increased at continuing care facilities, Medicine Hat still at 15 cases

“We’re confident that these measures will make a difference to ensure that our continuing care facilities in Alberta are as safe as possible,” he said.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, announced 105 more cases of COVID-19 in Alberta over the past 24 hours. The total now sits at 2,908.

“Of these, 1,230 people have recovered,” said Hinshaw.

Alberta has tested 105,317 people in total.

In terms of hospitalizations, 63 people are in hospital with 15 admitted to ICU.

In Medicine Hat, the number of cases remains unchanged at 15 confirmed cases. One case though has gone from the active to recovered column. There are now five cases considered active and 10 are listed as recovered.

The South Zone count of cases has risen by 14 to 156. Cypress County has eight cases, seven active and one recovered. The County of Forty Mile and the MD of Taber each have just two cases, all recovered

Brooks has 115 active cases and the County of Newell has one active case.

Hinshaw announced four more deaths in the province, bringing the total to 59. Two were in residents at long-term care facilities in the North and Calgary Zones, one a worker at the Cargill plant in High River and the fourth in the Edmonton Zone.

For the Cargill plant, Hinshaw said there were numbers to clarify. While there are 360 cases in workers from that plant related to that outbreak, due to spread in the community there are 484 total cases linked to that outbreak.

“There is a great deal of focus on controlling the spread linked to these networks,” she said but because many of the new cases were exposed up to two weeks ago new cases will be seen over the coming days.

Control measures are also in place at JBS Food Canada in Brooks, where 67 cases have been confirmed related to the workplace.

Hinshaw there has been community spread from the JBS outbreak, acknowledging one challenge comes from many people sharing a house.

“That’s something the outbreak team responding to the JBS plant and the Brooks community is looking at, trying to make sure all those supports are in place.”

She also confirmed two cases at the Sunrise Gardens continuing care facility in Brooks.

Beginning Tuesday the province will start naming where outbreaks have happened.

Hinshaw also encouraged Albertans to get outside when they can, but to maintain physical distancing.

“I know it can be confusing to hear me say ‘stay home’ and then hearing me encourage you to leave your house to go outside. This advice is not as contradictory as it may seem,” she said. “Getting exercise and spending time outside is important and you can do it while continuing to take all necessary precautions and following public health orders while you are out of the house. Thank you for continuing to do your part to flatten the curve.”

Shandro fired back against claims that domestically sourced masks have been sent to other provinces and masks sourced from China have been given to Alberta’s front-line workers.

“This is untrue,” he said. “All procedural masks which have been sent to other provinces were sourced from manufacturers in China. Those same masks are also being used here in Alberta. The masks sourced form China are safe for use in Alberta and all other provinces. All of our PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) meets the required safety standards.”

Jitendra Prasad, chief program officer, contracting, procurement and supply management, Alberta Health Services, assured Albertans about the supply of PPE in Alberta.

“We continue to have an adequate supply of PPE within Alberta and we’re very comfortable with the stock levels we have and the orders we’re placing on an ongoing basis,” he said.

On concerns from front-line workers about the fit and nose pieces on masks being distributed, Prasad said he understands the level of familiarity they have. But he added that AHS is very careful about testing the masks that are being brought in and steps have been taken to improve the masks.

At the beginning of the update, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said much more action is needed on the energy industry, hours after energy prices traded at negative values for the first time in history.

“This strikes right at the heart of the entire Canadian economy, if we see the current negative price situation continue for any period of time the implications obviously for this industry are very serious, could not be more serious,” Kenney said, then pointing the trickle down effect it will have on banking industry, manufacturing sector and more across the country.

“I publicly renew our urgent request for federal action in this regard,” he said.

He also expressed Alberta’s sympathies to the province of Nova Scotia after the mass shooting in that province on the weekend.

by Chris Brown

Staff to be increased at continuing care facilities, Medicine Hat still at 15 cases

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