Alberta now has its seventh confirmed case of COVID-19

By GILLIAN SLADE on March 10, 2020.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

Three new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Alberta bringing the total to seven after about 1,000 tests in the last couple days.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, says all are in isolation in their own homes and that they have the support of public health officials.

“While additional cases will likely be detected in the coming days, Albertans can trust that we are doing everything we can to protect their health.”

All cases are now “confirmed” rather than first being “presumed.” Positive samples tested by Alberta laboratories no longer require further confirmation from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.

A spokesperson for Hinshaw says the capacity for laboratory tests has “dramatically” increased.

“Assessment centres in Edmonton and Calgary have been opened and additional staff are being trained on Health Link 811,” said Tom McMillan, assistant director of communications. “(Sunday) alone, 700 tests for COVID-19 were done, meaning that almost 1,000 tests have been completed in Alberta in the past two days.”

Two cases had been identified by Friday afternoon with another two on Sunday.

The fifth case is a woman in her 70s who lives in the Edmonton zone. She had been in close contact with someone previously announced as having COVID-19. She was also on a Grand Princess Cruise returning home on Feb. 21 after which her symptoms began.

Case six is a man in his 30s from the Calgary zone in contact with a woman also recently identified as having the virus.

He had travelled to Ukraine, Netherlands and Turkey, returning to Alberta on March 2.

Case seven is a woman in her 50s from the Calgary zone. She was on board the MS Braemar cruise ship from Feb. 11 to March 4. She developed symptoms after returning home and was tested on March 8.

Public health investigations are taking place and close contacts are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days during which time they will be monitored.

While Alberta has officially said the COVID-19 virus will probably remain active on a surface for a few hours, U.K. experts say it can be up to a week.

McMillan says evidence is rapidly emerging and while some evidence says a few hours it “may be possible for it to last several days under ideal conditions.”

He says the current risk of catching the virus in Alberta remains low but this may change in the coming weeks.

The current risk of being exposed to COVID-19 in Alberta is still low, said McMillan.

The best protection is cleaning your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water, avoiding touching your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve, disposing of tissues appropriately, and especially staying home and away from others if you are sick.

Anyone who has health concerns or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 linked to recent travel should contact Health Link 811 to see if followup testing is required.

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