Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw. (Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Province announces new COVID-19 measures for continuing care centres

Apr 29, 2020 | 3:54 PM

CALGARY, AB – The Government of Alberta has released its latest report on COVID-19 in the province.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw confirmed 315 new infections Wednesday, bringing the total to 5,165 to date.

Part of the high number is due to 5,205 tests being conducted in just the last 24 hours, which is one of the biggest days for testing yet.

Dr. Hinshaw announced that, since Tuesday’s update, seven people in continuing care centres in the Calgary Health Zone have died as a result of COVID-19. This means the virus has now claimed the lives of 87 Albertans.

503 people in these facilities, including residents and staff, have tested positive for the virus.

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As a result, she announced new protective measures in continuing care centres.

• If one person shows even mild symptoms of COVID-19, they will be tested
• In instances where one person is confirmed to have COVID-19, all residents in the same unit will be tested
• Staff members caring for isolating residents must wear eye protection, gown, mask, visor, gloves, and any other required personal protective equipment
• Residents who are not in isolation can be outdoors with a designated essential visitor and one other person. All visitors will have to wear a mask or face covering and must stay at least two meters apart from others

LNN reported Wednesday that the Cargill meatpacking plant in High River will be allowed to reopen on Monday, May 4.

Dr. Hinshaw says officials there have ensured that all measures meant to limit the spread of infection are put into place.

“These measures were enhanced in certain settings such as the locker room, for example, there will be additional measures put into place there.”

821 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the Cargill plant in High River and 276 at JBS in Brooks.

The province also confirmed the first case in the Blood Reserve in Southern Alberta. The government’s interactive map shows two cases for Cardston-Kainai.

The breakdown of COVID-19 by regional health zone is as follows:

• Calgary zone – 3,520 cases, 57 deaths (seven new)
  • 60,929 tests
• South zone – 833 cases, four deaths
  • 9,463 tests
• Edmonton zone – 489 cases, 11 deaths
  • 40,883 tests
• North zone – 205 cases, 14 deaths
  • 10,727 tests
• Central zone – 84 cases, one death
  • 11,641 tests

The breakdown for the South Health Zone by community is as follows:

• Brooks – 763 cases (140 new), 31 recovered, four deaths
• Medicine Hat – 29 cases (two new), 13 recovered
• Lethbridge – 13 cases, nine recovered
  • West Lethbridge – seven cases, five recovered
  • South Lethbridge – six cases, four recovered
• County of Newell – nine cases (four new)
• Cypress County – eight cases, five recovered
• Cardston-Kainai – two cases (two new)
• M.D. of Taber – two cases, two recovered
• County of Forty Mile – two cases, two recovered
• Lethbridge County – one case, one recovered