Paula Isfeld, vice president of care, Masterpiece Southland Meadows, stands next to one of the signs at the seniors residence as protocols are put in place to protect residents.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
None of the cases of COVID-19 in Medicine Hat are in seniors’ retirement residences, says Dr. Shobhit Maruti, medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services south zone.
Early this week Alberta’s second death from COVID-19 was revealed to be a woman in her 80’s living at Calgary’s McKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre. There have since been other outbreaks in long-term-care facilities around the province and stricter measures have been put in place by Alberta Health to keep residents and staff safe.
Seniors and people with other health conditions are known to be at additional risk of more severe symptoms and complications if they are positive for COVID-19.
Of the 12 cases of COVID-19 in the south zone, five of which are in Medicine Hat, Alberta Health has confirmed there are three in Lethbridge and two in Taber. The balance have not had a municipal district identified yet.
Medicine Hat has no COVID-19 cases in hospital currently, said Maruti.
In three weeks Alberta has gone from one “presumptive” case of COVID-19 to 486 confirmed cases.
In the south zone, which includes Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, a week ago there were no local cases.
Three weeks ago Alberta had done less than 200 COVID-19 tests and by Friday more than 36,000 had been done.
Even though there are no cases of COVID-19 in Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, the emergency department has been busy dealing with many influenza patients and those with other viruses.
If you have symptoms that could be COVID-19, you should self-isolate immediately and behave as if you have a positive test, said Maruti.
Do the assessment test online https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx or call Health Link 811.
A COVID-19 assessment centre recently opened at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. Alberta Health Services is stressing that the protocol in order to be referred there is only through Health Link or as a result of an assessment online. You cannot be referred there by your doctor. Do not go to the emergency department if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
The emergency department is obviously still open for those with other health emergency issues.
AHS says it is still appropriate to call 911 if you are experiencing an emergency as a result of COVID-19 symptoms such as difficulty breathing. A spokesperson says it is important when calling 911 to state up front that you either are positive for COVID-19 or suspect you are.
