What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Tuesday, March 31
Alberta has now reported 754 cases
The latest:
- A third person has died in a southeast Calgary seniors' home struggling with a COVID-19 outbreak. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer, said the outbreak protocol wasn't immediately implemented at the home but is in place now.
- The total cumulative cases in Alberta now sits at 754, with 64 new cases announced Tuesday. Nine people have died, 26 are in hospital and 11 in intensive care.
- Health-care workers account for 77 cases of COVID-19, but the majority of those cases are due to travel.
- As many as 75 cases in the province are believed to be due to community spread.
- Nearly 49,000 tests have been completed.
- The City of Calgary now says layoffs announced Monday will affect 1,200 employees.
- The Alberta Medical Association says the government is not backing down from health-care restructuring despite pandemic.
- New rules governing landlords and tenants in the province kick in on Wednesday.
- The City of Edmonton is projecting millions in lost revenue due to COVID-19.
- You can find all the latest COVID-19 statistics here.
What you need to know today in Alberta:
If you're a tenant or a landlord, it's best to be up to speed on rules coming into effect in Alberta tomorrow. The new rules include a delay on evictions for non-payment of rent and a temporary ban on rent increases. Get answers to your questions here.
WATCH | How one person can spread COVID-19 to others:
Of the 754 cases in Alberta, the majority continue to be located in the Calgary zone. The total number by region:
- Calgary zone: 453.
- Edmonton zone: 187.
- Central zone: 51.
- North zone: 50.
- South zone: 12.
- Not yet confirmed: 1.
What you need to know today in Canada:
The United States is now the epicentre for the global pandemic, and that will have consequences for Canada and Canadians for some time to come. Those effects will be both social and economic, with one stunning new estimate from the U.S. Federal Reserve that says unemployment in that country could hit 32 per cent this quarter.
Beyond the consequences of a worsening situation in the United States, the federal government announced on Tuesday that it would pay $2 billion for to secure protective personal equipment and is looking at homegrown solutions to possible equipment shortages like ventilators.
WATCH | Why gloves won't do much to protect you from COVID-19:
As of 6 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Canada had 7,474 confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19, with 92 deaths. Provinces and territories reported 1,114 cases as resolved, though it's important to note that data isn't available in all areas.
The numbers, which are updated at least daily by the provinces and territories, are not a complete picture, as they don't account for people who haven't been tested, those being investigated as a potential case and people still waiting to learn the results of their test.
There have also been two reported COVID-19 related deaths of Canadians abroad — one in Brazil and one in Japan.
Self-assessment:
Alberta Health Services has an online self-assessment tool that you can use to determine if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
Testing is focused on individuals who are most at risk from the virus, or those most at risk of passing it on to others.
WATCH | Should I change my clothes when I get home from work?
The province says Albertans who have returned to Canada after March 12 must self-isolate for 14 days. 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.