Seven new deaths reported due to COVID-19, highest daily death total to date in Alberta

Of the 1,500 total cases, 713 people have recovered. That’s 121 more than Thursday.

Hinshaw said health officials suspect 201 of total cases may have come as a result of community transmission.

“We have completed 2,123 COVID tests in the last 24 hours. This number does not fully reflect the thousands of Albertans who have had testing scheduled after completing the online assessment tool, as it takes time for this increased volume of requests to make its way through the system,” she said.

“As of last night, I was told that more than 6,000 people had been referred for testing in the previous 24 hours, so I expect the number of tests processed at the lab to rise in the days to come.”

Unfortunately, Hinshaw also announced seven new deaths due to COVID-19. This is the highest number of deaths the province has seen in a single day.

Four of those deaths were at the McKenzie Towne Long Term Care facility. There have been 17 deaths at that facility, with 39 deaths in total across Alberta.

Hinshaw said the province is taking new steps to prevent the spread of illness in continuing care facilities. All workers in these sites will now be required to wear masks at all times when providing direct patient care, or when working in patient care areas within two metres of others.

Additionally, the province is requiring workers in these types of facilities to work at only one site. Hinshaw said this would help prevent the spread between facilities.

She noted that these requirements are currently in effect at outbreak locations, but will be required, starting late next week, in all long-term care and supportive living sites across the province.

She said work is underway with organizations that provide care in those settings to make the transition to meet the new requirements.

Lodges with no supportive living designation and group home providers are encouraged to participate in this process of assigning staff to work at only one site. However, at this time, for these providers, this practice is voluntary.

Hinshaw said the province will work closely will all providers of care for those living in all settings, from long-term care to group homes, to ensure residents receive the care they need and to mitigate concerns about the supply of staff at each site.

Effective immediately, Alberta Health Services is implementing a policy for all healthcare workers providing direct patient care or working in patient care areas in both AHS-contracted provider and community settings, to wear a surgical or procedural mask continuously at all times and in all areas of the workplace where social distancing is not possible.

That applies if they are either involved in direct patient contact or cannot maintain adequate social distancing from patients or coworkers.

Healthcare workers who do not work in the patient care areas or have direct patient contact are only required to wear a mask if social distancing cannot be maintained in the workplace or if entry into patient care areas is required.

Hinshaw also acknowledged the challenges children are facing not being in school and missing out on spending time with their friends.

An online fact sheet is available for children and their families to help cope with the obstacles they may be facing during the challenging pandemic.

She added that as weather improves, it is important to continue to practice social distancing and to safely stay in touch with relatives and friends by way of video calling and other social media platforms.

Dr. Hinshaw’s next in-person update on COVID-19 is set for Monday, April 13. A video of today’s update can be viewed here.

by Justin Goulet

Seven new deaths reported due to COVID-19, highest daily death total to date in Alberta

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