What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Wednesday, May 13
CBC News | Posted: May 13, 2020 3:24 PM | Last Updated: May 14, 2020
Province will announce partial reopening of economy on Wednesday, but not in Calgary and Brooks
The latest:
- Phase 1 of Alberta's relaunch will proceed on Thursday, but not in Calgary or Brooks.
- 40 food inspectors in Canada have COVID-19, according to union.
- Families launch a $25-million class-action lawsuit against McKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre.
- Business owners face strict rules and employee anxiety ahead of possible relaunch.
- Canada's meat supply chain was strained by shutdowns, illness and deaths, but it did hold up.
- Dr. Deena Hinshaw says cabinet must weigh risks and rewards of a regional approach to reopening sectors of economy.
- The province reported two more deaths on Wednesday and 62 new cases of the illness.
What you need to know today in Alberta:
The government is announcing the first phase of its relaunch today, lifting some restrictions across all areas of the province, outside Calgary and Brooks.
Watch: COVID-19: What has 2 months of physical distancing accomplished?
Cabinet met last night to discuss the plans. With rates of infection higher in some areas of the province like the Calgary zone, Alberta's top health official said the politicians will have to weigh the risks and rewards of a regional approach to reopening parts of the economy.
Premier Jason Kenney told a virtual town hall on Wednesday afternoon that it would proceed but cited the higher rates in the two southern cities as a reason to hold off.
Meanwhile, business owners are trying to determine whether and when to open, facing anxiety from staff, strict regulations brought on by the existing health orders, which remain in place, and cash flow problems.
The regional breakdown of cases on Wednesday was:
- Calgary zone: 990 active, 3,301 recovered.
- South zone: 117 active, 1,045 recovered.
- Edmonton zone: 61 active, 439 recovered.
- North zone: 21 active, 191 recovered.
- Central zone: 14 active, 82 recovered.
- Unknown: 8 active, 18 recovered.
What you need to know today in Canada:
The House of Commons will meet today and debate whether to double the borrowing abilities of the Canadian Dairy Commission, a Crown corporation, to allow it to buy more surplus cheese and butter to help farmers and processors amidst the pandemic.
Watch: Why aren't masks mandatory?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is aware of fraudulent claims for emergency benefits. He said that was expected and "we knew that there would be a need to clean up after the fact, to go after the fraudulent cases, and we will do that."
As of 6:45 p.m. ET Wednesday, provinces and territories in Canada reported a total of 72,278 cases, with 35,177 listed as recovered or resolved.
A CBC News tally of coronavirus-related deaths based on provincial data, regional health information and CBC's reporting stood at 5,409.
Self-assessment and supports:
Alberta Health Services has an online self-assessment tool that you can use to determine if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
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.
Watch: The problems in long-term care that COVID-19 could change.
If you have symptoms, even mild, you are to self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms.
The province also operates a confidential mental health support line at 1-877-303-2642 and addiction help line at 1-866-332-2322, available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Online resources are available for advice on handling stressful situations and ways to talk with children.
There is a 24-hour family violence information line at 310-1818 to get anonymous help in more than 170 languages, and Alberta's One Line for Sexual Violence is available at 1-866-403-8000, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.