Dr. Deena Hinshaw -- The Gov't of Alberta

By Chris Brown

Just one new case of COVID 19 in South Zone

Mar 23, 2020 | 5:42 PM

EDMONTON, AB. — The number of COVID-19 cases in Alberta has reached 301 after an additional 42 new cases were announced on Monday (Mar 23).

Only one new case was added in the South Zone, that being in West Lethbridge. The South Zone now has a total of eight, cases – five in Lethbridge, two in Medicine Hat and one in the M.D. of Taber.

Calgary continues to register the most cases of all those across the province:

— 188 cases in the Calgary zone

— 68 cases in the Edmonton zone

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— 19 cases in the North zone

— 17 cases in the Central zone

— Eight cases in the South zone

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health said that up to 24 of the total cases in the province could be a result of community transmission.

Eighteen of the 301 cases have resulted in hospitalization, seven of those in the ICU. There have been no additional deaths and the number of recoveries remains at three.

Hinshaw also announced a decrease in the self-isolation guidelines.

“We’ve updated our self-isolation time for those who are sick from 14 to 10 days following the onset of symptoms,” she said. “The most updated medical evidence indicates that if you are feeling well after the onset of mild symptoms like sore throat, runny nose or cough, you will be able to stop self -solation again provided your symptoms have resolved. If symptoms continue past 10 days self-isolation should as well.”

Hinshaw said those who are well and have had an exposure of concern such as travellers returning from outside of Canada or those who have had close contact with a confirmed case, will still need to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return or after their last exposure as a precaution. If those people start to experience symptoms they must follow the same 10-day guidelines, Hinshaw said.

A bonspiel in Edmonton attended by western Canada physicians and health-care workers March 11-14 provided messages Hinshaw shared.

“Even mild symptoms – minor sore throat or runny nose can result in spread,” she said. “Commonly touched surfaces like a serving spoon at a buffer can be a mechanism for spread. COVID 19 does not discriminate. All of us need to be vigilant with regular hand washing, staying home even with minor respiratory symptoms and keeping unwashed hands well away from our faces.”