Truck drivers are still working to ensure our store shelves are filled and fresh produce is available – and they need supports too..News reports of truck drivers being denied access to washrooms and food at drive-thrus have been noted around the country..Alberta Transportation has reopened a number of highway rest stops along Highway 2 but asked that drivers carry their own toilet paper and hand sanitizer in case the rest stop is out..The province closed a number of rest stop washrooms as “cost saving measures’ in October but have since reopened some along common transport routes to accommodate drivers who must be on the roads to deliver goods..“Keeping these washrooms open is a priority as the trucking industry and the movement of goods is crucially important,” Alberta Transportation said..The Alberta Motor Transportation Association has provided a new rest stop database on their website for drivers who are still making the trips along Alberta highways and some restaurants such as McDonald’s are offering curbside delivery to drivers who cannot go through a drive-thru..Tim Hortons has also announced that Truckers can order through the Tim Horton’s app and pick-up at the door. The company has take-out and washroom access in over 2,000 locations, a recent statement said..Jeff, a driver who runs from Calgary to Medicine Hat, AB, says the traffic has dropped and is mostly trucks now..“I feel for the drivers who are far from home. I see many at the rest stops overnight and I wonder if they have food or a restroom break or a shower,” he said..Advocates have been trying to raise awareness of the needs of drivers who may be on the road for long periods and leadership is taking a stand..“Trucking is an essential service — that’s not the opinion of the Manitoba Trucking Association, that’s the opinion of the Prime Minister of Canada,” Prime Minister Trudeau said on March 18..Provinces across the country have asked businesses to do what they can to accommodate drivers who are bringing necessary goods to towns and cities across the country..Social media users are encouraged to use the hashtag #thankatrucker with their stories and thanks to those who are working to ensure we have everything we need here at home..Alberta.Alberta announced 117 new cases Wednesday, bringing the province’s total to 871..Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas Chief Medical Officer of Health, also reported two additional deaths in the province..There are 41 cases of COVID-19 at long-term or continuing care centres in the province..Additional information for Alberta residents can be found here..British Columbia.B.C. reported 53 new cases bringing its total to 1,066..There are 22 care homes in the province with positive cases, up from 19 Tuesday..Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.s health official, announced one new death, for a total of 25 COVID-19 related deaths in the province to date..Additional information for B.C. residents can be found here..Manitoba.The province announced 24 new cases on Wednesday bringing the province’s total to 127..Four individuals have been hospitalized and three of those are in intensive care..Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin says public health officials have begun to see community transmission in Winnipeg..“Public health investigations have not been able to confirm several cases to travel or other confirmed cases. We knew to expect this as more cases are introduced in a jurisdiction, community transmission is going to be inevitable.”.Additional information for Manitoba residents can be found here..Saskatchewan.Saskatchewan identified nine new cases on Wednesday bringing the province’s total to 193..The province also recognized the COVID-related death of a third resident..Eight cases in the province cannot be traced either to travel or known cases..At this time, Dr, Saqib Shahab, Chief Medical Health Officer for the province, said aside from the four individuals in hospital, all other cases are recovering at home..Additional information for Saskatchewan residents can be found here..Provincial tallies:.Quebec: 4,611 confirmed and presumptive cases, including 1 recovered and 33 deathsOntario: 2,392 cases including 501 recovered and 37 deathsBritish Columbia: 1,013 confirmed cases including 507 recovered and 24 deathsAlberta: 871 confirmed cases including 120 recovered and 11 deathsSaskatchewan: 193 confirmed cases including 30 recovered and 3 deathsNewfoundland and Labrador: 175 confirmed cases and 1 deathNova Scotia: 173 confirmed and presumptive casesManitoba: 127 confirmed cases including 4 recovered and 1 deathNew Brunswick: 81 confirmed and presumptive casesPrince Edward Island: 21 confirmed cases, and 3 recoveredYukon: 5 confirmed casesNorthwest Territories: 1 confirmed caseNunavut: 0 cases.There are currently 9,663 cases of COVID-19 in Canada with 2,204 cases from B.C. to Manitoba..Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean is a Senior Reporter with Western Standard.dmaclean@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter @Mitchell_AB
Truck drivers are still working to ensure our store shelves are filled and fresh produce is available – and they need supports too..News reports of truck drivers being denied access to washrooms and food at drive-thrus have been noted around the country..Alberta Transportation has reopened a number of highway rest stops along Highway 2 but asked that drivers carry their own toilet paper and hand sanitizer in case the rest stop is out..The province closed a number of rest stop washrooms as “cost saving measures’ in October but have since reopened some along common transport routes to accommodate drivers who must be on the roads to deliver goods..“Keeping these washrooms open is a priority as the trucking industry and the movement of goods is crucially important,” Alberta Transportation said..The Alberta Motor Transportation Association has provided a new rest stop database on their website for drivers who are still making the trips along Alberta highways and some restaurants such as McDonald’s are offering curbside delivery to drivers who cannot go through a drive-thru..Tim Hortons has also announced that Truckers can order through the Tim Horton’s app and pick-up at the door. The company has take-out and washroom access in over 2,000 locations, a recent statement said..Jeff, a driver who runs from Calgary to Medicine Hat, AB, says the traffic has dropped and is mostly trucks now..“I feel for the drivers who are far from home. I see many at the rest stops overnight and I wonder if they have food or a restroom break or a shower,” he said..Advocates have been trying to raise awareness of the needs of drivers who may be on the road for long periods and leadership is taking a stand..“Trucking is an essential service — that’s not the opinion of the Manitoba Trucking Association, that’s the opinion of the Prime Minister of Canada,” Prime Minister Trudeau said on March 18..Provinces across the country have asked businesses to do what they can to accommodate drivers who are bringing necessary goods to towns and cities across the country..Social media users are encouraged to use the hashtag #thankatrucker with their stories and thanks to those who are working to ensure we have everything we need here at home..Alberta.Alberta announced 117 new cases Wednesday, bringing the province’s total to 871..Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas Chief Medical Officer of Health, also reported two additional deaths in the province..There are 41 cases of COVID-19 at long-term or continuing care centres in the province..Additional information for Alberta residents can be found here..British Columbia.B.C. reported 53 new cases bringing its total to 1,066..There are 22 care homes in the province with positive cases, up from 19 Tuesday..Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.s health official, announced one new death, for a total of 25 COVID-19 related deaths in the province to date..Additional information for B.C. residents can be found here..Manitoba.The province announced 24 new cases on Wednesday bringing the province’s total to 127..Four individuals have been hospitalized and three of those are in intensive care..Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin says public health officials have begun to see community transmission in Winnipeg..“Public health investigations have not been able to confirm several cases to travel or other confirmed cases. We knew to expect this as more cases are introduced in a jurisdiction, community transmission is going to be inevitable.”.Additional information for Manitoba residents can be found here..Saskatchewan.Saskatchewan identified nine new cases on Wednesday bringing the province’s total to 193..The province also recognized the COVID-related death of a third resident..Eight cases in the province cannot be traced either to travel or known cases..At this time, Dr, Saqib Shahab, Chief Medical Health Officer for the province, said aside from the four individuals in hospital, all other cases are recovering at home..Additional information for Saskatchewan residents can be found here..Provincial tallies:.Quebec: 4,611 confirmed and presumptive cases, including 1 recovered and 33 deathsOntario: 2,392 cases including 501 recovered and 37 deathsBritish Columbia: 1,013 confirmed cases including 507 recovered and 24 deathsAlberta: 871 confirmed cases including 120 recovered and 11 deathsSaskatchewan: 193 confirmed cases including 30 recovered and 3 deathsNewfoundland and Labrador: 175 confirmed cases and 1 deathNova Scotia: 173 confirmed and presumptive casesManitoba: 127 confirmed cases including 4 recovered and 1 deathNew Brunswick: 81 confirmed and presumptive casesPrince Edward Island: 21 confirmed cases, and 3 recoveredYukon: 5 confirmed casesNorthwest Territories: 1 confirmed caseNunavut: 0 cases.There are currently 9,663 cases of COVID-19 in Canada with 2,204 cases from B.C. to Manitoba..Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean is a Senior Reporter with Western Standard.dmaclean@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter @Mitchell_AB
