Wednesday, March 11, 2020

COVID-19 coronavirus info for Albertans

Learn about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and actions being taken to protect the health of Albertans.


On this page:

Current situation
Current risk level in Alberta
Cases and testing
About coronavirus
Prevent and prepare
Info for Albertans
Actions being taken
Chief Medical Officer updates
Resources
News

Current situation
A pneumonia outbreak, now known to be caused by COVID-19, was identified in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of the virus a public health emergency.

There are 14 cases in Alberta and 93 cases across Canada. The risk to Albertans is still low.
Testing protocols and travel recommendations
Updates from Alberta's Chief Medical Officer

Last updated: March 11 at 8:15 am
Current risk level in Alberta

The current risk level is low.

Risk is determined by assessing how likely Albertans are to be exposed to the virus in the province. Currently, Albertans have a very low chance of contracting COVID-19. If this changes in the coming weeks, the risk level in Alberta will be updated accordingly.
Cases and testing


Cases in Alberta and Canada

The cases in Canada have been travel-related and have been isolated to prevent further transmission.


Location
Confirmed or presumptive cases
In Alberta 14
In Canada 93
Deaths
In Alberta  0
In Canada  1

Testing in Alberta

Alberta is testing for COVID-19. We are acting out of an excess of caution even when the likelihood of exposure is small or improbable. Testing numbers are updated every Monday and Friday, and are current as of March 10.


Test results
Number of completed tests 

Negative 2,004
Positive 14



About coronavirus


Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause respiratory illness in people, ranging from mild common colds to severe illnesses. Others cause illness in animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people then spread from person to person through close contact.

Novel coronaviruses are new strains of the virus that have not been previously identified in humans.

COVID-19 vs. Influenza
How it spreads
Symptoms
Treatment

Prevent and prepare

Follow these tips to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses and prepare your household in case you need to self-isolate at home.

How to prevent the spread
How to prepare

Info for Albertans


If you have COVID-19 symptoms and have travelled outside Canada or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions.

Do not go to a health care facility without consulting 811 first. If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19.



Actions being taken

Alberta’s public health officials are carefully monitoring the situation in Canada, China and around the world, and are ready to respond. They are:
working closely with federal, provincial and territorial partners to share information and assess potential health risks
ensuring our health system is ready to respond effectively if needed
ensuring front-line health professionals have information about the virus so they can:
take recommended actions
promptly report suspected cases to public health officials
updating self-isolation and self-monitoring recommendations for returning travellers experiencing symptoms, as required
tracing all close contacts of presumptive and confirmed cases, testing and isolating those who are symptomatic, and asking even those who are well to self-isolate for 14 days after their last contact with the case

Find out more under the info for Albertans section.

Chief Medical Officer updates


Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw issued the following statement for Albertans on March 10:


"Today, I am announcing that seven new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in our province. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Alberta to 14. A breakdown of each case has been provided in the news release being sent out today.

"Three of the new cases are from the Edmonton zone, while the other four new cases are from the Calgary zone. They involve a range of ages and travel locations outside of Canada.

"This includes travellers returning from France, the Netherlands, Egypt, Iran, Taiwan, Germany, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, the Philippines and the United States.

"Many travellers visited more than one country during their trip. One of the individuals was on the same MS Braemar cruise ship in the Caribbean as a case announced yesterday.

"It is important to note that, while this is a list of the countries to which each individual travelled, it is too early to know in which of those countries they contracted the virus.

"All of the new cases are recovering in isolation at home. As with all previous cases, health officials are reaching out to any individuals who may have been in close contact with these cases. I also want to inform you that one of the previously confirmed cases is now receiving treatment in hospital. The individual who is receiving treatment is someone with a pre-existing chronic health condition.

"I know that any rise in case numbers may feel alarming to many people. Many Albertans are wondering what this means for them, and if cases will continue to rise. I want to assure Albertans that all of these cases are travel related. This means that our existing recommendations remain particularly important.

"I want to remind all Albertans that:
If you are returning from outside of Canada, you should closely monitor your health for 14 days.
If you start experiencing a fever or cough, even if it is mild, please self-isolate yourself immediately and call Health Link 811.
Do not go to an emergency department, urgent care centre, or family doctor’s office for this assessment and testing.

"The fact that all confirmed cases are travel related also indicates Alberta continues to take the right approach at this time. Our public health measures are doing precisely what they were intended to do: detect new cases and take immediate action.

"This means that the number of confirmed cases will continue to increase in the weeks ahead. But every new travel-related case that is confirmed is another case where we have taken action to isolate the virus and prevent its spread.

"What can Albertans do to prepare and protect themselves?

"They can take seriously the role that all of us now play in protecting our fellow citizens.

“As I mentioned yesterday, many people who get COVID-19 will experience minor symptoms and even recover on their own, but others are at risk of serious complications. In particular, COVID-19 can be extremely serious, and even fatal, for seniors and those with underlying health conditions.

“If you are feeling ill and are not sure if you should stay home or not, think about the people in your life who have a medical condition, or are elderly, and take the action you would want others to take to protect them. We continue to ask anyone who is feeling ill to stay home and not visit hospitals, long-term care facilities or supportive living accommodations.

“Alberta Health and AHS are developing new precautionary materials for schools, long-term care facilities and others to update them on the situation and provide additional advice. This morning, I also participated in a telephone town hall with municipalities and emergency managers to discuss preparations.

“While the risk of exposure in Alberta remains low, we are taking all necessary steps to prepare the health system in case the risk level changes in the coming weeks. In addition, I want to emphasize that the risk to Albertans who are traveling outside the country is increasing.

"Albertans planning travel in the coming weeks, should carefully monitor the travel recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada and consider how the evolving situation may impact their travel plans.

"As well, public health officials continue to put in countless hours to investigate, test and help our province get ready. Through those outstanding efforts, we are preparing for whatever direction COVID-19 takes in the days ahead.

"As I mentioned yesterday, we need to get used to a new normal. This means we all need to be vigilant and take additional precautions to limit the risk for others. The precautionary measures that you take now will help shield yourself, seniors, and people with pre-existing medical conditions from this virus.

"Together, we can protect each other and keep our communities healthy.”

Go back to COVID-19 info for Albertans

Resources
Government of Canada's 2019 New Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Outbreak Notification - English | Simplified Chinese

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