Premier Jason Kenney. (The Canadian Press)

By David Opinko

Province announces measures to help COVID-19 patients in self-isolation

Mar 13, 2020 | 4:44 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Premier Jason Kenney says the provincial government is doing what it can to help people who are afflicted by COVID-19.

This comes as another six cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Alberta, bringing the provincial total up to 29. All patients are from the Calgary and Edmonton zones and their cases are all related to international travel.

He says workers who are self-isolating due to concerns around the virus will no longer need a doctor’s note to take time off. Patients who believe that they may have contracted COVID-19 or who are returning from travel are asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Mandatory sick leave has been increased from five days to 14.

The rule of needing to be employed for 90 days before becoming eligible for sick leave has been waived.

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“We are taking COVID-19 extremely seriously and acting quickly to improve employment rules. That is why we are offering paid sick leave to help contain the spread of the virus,” says Kenney. “No one should have to choose between work and taking care of their health. We are all in this together to ensure workplaces are safe and the spread of COVID-19 is mitigated.”

Health Minister Tyler Shandro says he knows the Health Link resource has been overwhelmed with calls regarding coronavirus and about getting tested.

The service has been receiving more than 6,300 calls per day.

In response to this, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has doubled Health Link staff and tripled call line capability.

AHS is working on creating an online assessment tool so Albertans can get answers about their symptoms and determine whether they need testing. It will be available as of 5:00 pm on Friday, March 13 here.

At this time, travel outside of the country is not being recommended.

“Public health officials are recommending that any traveller returning from outside of the country should self-isolate for 14 days, even if they are feeling well, and monitor for symptoms,” reads a media release from the Government of Alberta.

“Any traveller who has returned before March 12 is not advised to self-isolate unless they have returned from Italy, Iran, China’s Hubei province or the Grand Princess cruise ship.”

Kenney says he continues to work the federal government and Canada’s provincial governments on an economic stimulus package.

More information on COVID-19 and the province’s response to it can be found online here.