What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Tuesday, April 21
The latest:
What you need to know today in Alberta:
Health-care workers say new masks sourced by the province are giving them headaches and rashes and don’t fit properly, but a health official says it’s just a matter of personal preference and that anyone experiencing adverse effects can request a different mask.
It comes shortly after Premier Jason Kenney said his government sent masks to Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia because Alberta had a surplus.
WATCH: What happens after Canadians flatten the curve:
Also on Monday, the government said it will advance $24.5 million to operators of continuing care centres to help deal with the cost pressures of the pandemic.
Alberta reported four more deaths from COVID-19 on Monday and 105 new cases of the illness.
The total number of deaths now sits at 59 and the total number of cases at 2,908.
Of those, 1,619 are active cases, while 1,230 people have recovered.
As of Monday, 100,898 Albertans have been tested for COVID-19.
The regional breakdown of cases is:
- Calgary zone: 2,077.
- Edmonton zone: 438.
- South zone: 156.
- North zone: 143.
- Central zone: 77.
- Unknown: 17.
What you need to know today in Canada:
Discussions about how to ease restrictions are beginning in some areas of Canada as the pandemic begins to ease in those areas, but the process is likely to be slow and cautious, and getting it wrong could lead to a resurgence in cases, according to the WHO.
WATCH: Finding a way to help during the pandemic:
Part of that process requires data on infections from more widespread testing, and federal officials say not enough is being done across the country. In addition, Ottawa has limited ability to ramp up that testing because it is a provincial matter.
As of 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Canada had 36,831 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases. The provinces and territories that provide public information on recoveries listed 12,599 cases as recovered or resolved.
A CBC News count of coronavirus-related deaths based on provincial data, local public health information and CBC’s own reporting has recorded 1,762 coronavirus-related deaths in Canada. There have been two reported COVID-19-related deaths of Canadians abroad.
Self-assessment:
Alberta Health Services has an online self-assessment tool that you can use to determine if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
WATCH: How to physically distance in tricky situations:
The province says Albertans who have returned to Canada from other countries must self-isolate. Unless your situation is critical and requires a call to 911, Albertans are advised to call Health Link at 811 before visiting a physician, hospital or other health-care facility.
If you have symptoms, even mild, you are to self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms.
You can find Alberta Health Services’ latest coronavirus updates here.