Western Canada now almost 300 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 19 presumptive cases, and the provinces are awaiting result of more than 40 tests..Alberta.Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced that the province has identified 23 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the province’s total to 97. Approximately six cases may be from community spread..The Premier announced earlier today that Alberta was enacting a public health emergency due to the concerning amount of cases that have been identified coming from community spread..It is now recommended that Albertans cancel gatherings of more than 50, including weddings and funerals. Bars have been asked to close but restaurants, pubs, cafes, and delis can remain open..The Premier also said that community organizations, such as non-profits and charities who minister to homeless and food insecure will also remain open..The healthcare system in Alberta is preparing to be able to care for any Albertan who needs urgent care, Hinshaw said, adding that the province was postponing all elective and non-emergent surgeries at this time..Hinshaw reiterated that social distancing plays an important role in protecting us all from infection..Additional information for Alberta residents can be found here..British Columbia.B.C. had the largest jump in cases since yesterday at 83, bringing its total to 186. The province also reported three more deaths..At this time, six people are in acute care, five have recovered (completed two negative tests for the virus 24 hours apart) and six people have died..With triple digit infection rates in the province, B.C. has finally suspended K-12 classes, making them the sixth province to do so. Ontario was first, followed by Manitoba, New Brunswick, Alberta and Saskatchewan..Education Minister Rob Fleming said some schools will remain open to deliver education for “essential” workers such as first responders and other health professionals..Premier John Horgan said child care facilities will remain open at this time..Additional information for B.C. residents can be found here..Manitoba.The province has identified seven new presumptive cases, bringing their potential total to 15..Premier Brian Pallister announced (and reiterated) the immediate “phasing down” of K-12 classes and day care facilities including private facilities by end of day Friday March 20..“I want to emphasize that we are working with health and emergency service to ensure child care will be available for our front line emergency staff who need those services,” Pallister said..He added that it may be necessary for some care centres to remain open to provide such an “essential service” to Manitbans..Day homes will stay open..Post-secondary institutions are putting additional mechanisms in place to provide academic continuity but Pallister did not elaborate at this time..Casinos in Manitoba will also be closed as of Wednesday March 18..Pallister said he is hoping retail and grocery outlets will try to open to seniors and vulnerable citizens without opening to the general public so that there are less opportunities for transmission..Though there are currently no cases demonstrating community spread in the province, additional measures are being added to protect the most vulnerable including restricting visitation to long-term care facilities and hospitals..Manitoba has also implemented a restriction on gatherings over 50 people..Additional information for Manitoba residents can be found here..Saskatchewan.The province of Saskatchewan has identified its eighth case of COVID-19 as of Tuesday March 17. The latest case, a woman in her 50’s from Regina, recently returned from a trip to Vancouver..The province has performed more than 1,100 tests and are still awaiting results from 46..Additional protections have been implemented to protect employee leave from their jobs during the pandemic. The government removed a requirement for doctor’s notes, and a requirement for employees to have 13 consecutive weeks of employment before accessing sick leave..The province has also postponed the release of the 2020 budget..“The events of the past few weeks have resulted in our revenue forecasts no longer being accurate,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said in a release Tuesday afternoon..“Given the rapidly changing situation, accurate revenue forecasts are not possible right now.”.Additional information for Saskatchewan residents can be found here..Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean is a Senior Reporter with Western Standard.dmaclean@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter @Mitchell_AB
Western Canada now almost 300 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 19 presumptive cases, and the provinces are awaiting result of more than 40 tests..Alberta.Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced that the province has identified 23 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the province’s total to 97. Approximately six cases may be from community spread..The Premier announced earlier today that Alberta was enacting a public health emergency due to the concerning amount of cases that have been identified coming from community spread..It is now recommended that Albertans cancel gatherings of more than 50, including weddings and funerals. Bars have been asked to close but restaurants, pubs, cafes, and delis can remain open..The Premier also said that community organizations, such as non-profits and charities who minister to homeless and food insecure will also remain open..The healthcare system in Alberta is preparing to be able to care for any Albertan who needs urgent care, Hinshaw said, adding that the province was postponing all elective and non-emergent surgeries at this time..Hinshaw reiterated that social distancing plays an important role in protecting us all from infection..Additional information for Alberta residents can be found here..British Columbia.B.C. had the largest jump in cases since yesterday at 83, bringing its total to 186. The province also reported three more deaths..At this time, six people are in acute care, five have recovered (completed two negative tests for the virus 24 hours apart) and six people have died..With triple digit infection rates in the province, B.C. has finally suspended K-12 classes, making them the sixth province to do so. Ontario was first, followed by Manitoba, New Brunswick, Alberta and Saskatchewan..Education Minister Rob Fleming said some schools will remain open to deliver education for “essential” workers such as first responders and other health professionals..Premier John Horgan said child care facilities will remain open at this time..Additional information for B.C. residents can be found here..Manitoba.The province has identified seven new presumptive cases, bringing their potential total to 15..Premier Brian Pallister announced (and reiterated) the immediate “phasing down” of K-12 classes and day care facilities including private facilities by end of day Friday March 20..“I want to emphasize that we are working with health and emergency service to ensure child care will be available for our front line emergency staff who need those services,” Pallister said..He added that it may be necessary for some care centres to remain open to provide such an “essential service” to Manitbans..Day homes will stay open..Post-secondary institutions are putting additional mechanisms in place to provide academic continuity but Pallister did not elaborate at this time..Casinos in Manitoba will also be closed as of Wednesday March 18..Pallister said he is hoping retail and grocery outlets will try to open to seniors and vulnerable citizens without opening to the general public so that there are less opportunities for transmission..Though there are currently no cases demonstrating community spread in the province, additional measures are being added to protect the most vulnerable including restricting visitation to long-term care facilities and hospitals..Manitoba has also implemented a restriction on gatherings over 50 people..Additional information for Manitoba residents can be found here..Saskatchewan.The province of Saskatchewan has identified its eighth case of COVID-19 as of Tuesday March 17. The latest case, a woman in her 50’s from Regina, recently returned from a trip to Vancouver..The province has performed more than 1,100 tests and are still awaiting results from 46..Additional protections have been implemented to protect employee leave from their jobs during the pandemic. The government removed a requirement for doctor’s notes, and a requirement for employees to have 13 consecutive weeks of employment before accessing sick leave..The province has also postponed the release of the 2020 budget..“The events of the past few weeks have resulted in our revenue forecasts no longer being accurate,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said in a release Tuesday afternoon..“Given the rapidly changing situation, accurate revenue forecasts are not possible right now.”.Additional information for Saskatchewan residents can be found here..Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean is a Senior Reporter with Western Standard.dmaclean@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter @Mitchell_AB