One year ago: First cases of virus were creeping into the South zone

By Gillian Slade Southern Alberta Newspapers on March 19, 2021.

One year ago, the first COVID death was reported in Alberta and the first cases were announced in the South zone.

Below is a chronological order of events as they unfolded that week.

March 16, 2020

– Schools and daycares were closed.

– Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, revealed that two of the most recent cases in the province were not travel related and public health officials had not been able to determine how transmission had occurred.

– Alberta Health announced there were 74 cases in Alberta.

– The first COVID death in Canada was announced.

– Alberta had processed 8,831 COVID tests at this point.

– People with symptoms were urged not to go to a hospital or visit a doctor but rather call HealthLink.

– Anyone who had travelled outside Canada was advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

March 17, 2020

– The number of COVID cases in Alberta reached 97.

– The South zone went from one COVID case to three in two days.

– Long-term care facilities were advised to allow only essential visitors.

– Places of worship were limited to gatherings of 50 people.

– Weddings and funerals were limited to 50.

Premier Jason Kenney made the announcement in the legislature.

“The situation is very serious and we are taking action more effectively to protect Albertans against this pandemic,” said Kenney in a Canadian Press story appearing in the News.

– The News featured the story of a local couple due to marry March 18 but decided to cancel the event due to restrictions.

– Restaurants were limited to 50 people and buffet food was stopped.

– The 50-person restriction did not apply to grocery stores, health-care facilities, or airports.

– Ski hills were encouraged to close.

– Hinshaw revealed she was experiencing COVID-like symptoms and had taken a COVID test. She described how she was self-isolating.

“This is what our new normal looks like,” Hinshaw told The Canadian Press at the time.

March 18, 2020

– The UCP government announced $50 million for “emergency isolation support” to Albertans unable to work because they were required to self-isolate. The temporary program paid individuals $573 for each of two weeks and was to last until the federal CERB kicked in.

– Canada talked about the need for an open border with the U.S. to ensure trucks transporting supplies, including food and medicines into Canada, would continue. Hinshaw had announced March 16 that anyone returning after travel outside Canada would need to isolate for 14 days.

March 19, 2020

– The first case of COVID in Medicine Hat was announced.

– There were 736 cases in Canada and nine deaths to date.

– Alberta had 146 cases.

– The first COVID death in Alberta was reported – an Edmonton man in his 60s with underlying medical conditions.

“This individual was admitted in the ICU in the Edmonton zone on March 12,” said Hinshaw. “As heartbreaking as this news is, it was expected. This is a dangerous virus. While most people who become ill with COVID only experience mild symptoms, it can make others very sick.”

– The number of cases by zone: Calgary 101, Edmonton 29, Central three, South three and North 10.

– A total of 16,867 tests had been carried out in Alberta.

– Hinshaw revealed a person who attended a curling bonspiel before restrictions were announced had tested positive. Other attendees were being contacted.

March 20, 2021

– Alberta had 195 positive cases, including five in the South zone.

– The province amended the Emergency Management Act to allow for local and provincial states of emergency to exist at the same time.