Province tweaking PPE distribution
Private entities will have to purchase their own supplies beginning June 30
Private organizations will only be granted access to personal protective equipment from the Alberta government for another month, before they will have to turn to their own suppliers, the province’s top doctor said Monday.
While announcing three additional COVID-19 deaths, 19 new cases and almost 6,000 recoveries, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said private organizations and businesses that have been receiving PPE from the government for the last couple of months will need to purchase their own PPE supplies at market price after June 30. The government will continue to supply PPE to hospitals, clinics, homeless shelters, first responders and publicly funded continuing care centres.
“We’ve been able to meet the demands despite enormous pressure on the global supply chain. Now, as more companies around the world produce PPE, it’s easier to get these products on the open market. Businesses and organizations have more options,” said Hinshaw.
“As Alberta moves forward with our relaunch efforts, the need for PPE to protect vulnerable Albertans remains paramount. This is why the provincial government is keeping key groups as a priority, while we change our distribution process.”
Hinshaw explained that organizations and businesses can request PPE if there is a short-term emergency, such as a threat to food security. Each application for PPE will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The announcement doesn’t change Premier Jason Kenney’s promise to distribute non-medical masks to the public, according to Hinshaw, who added that more information would be coming about that commitment soon.
The Alberta government is in step with others in Canada making a similar adjustment to PPE distribution, including governments in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba. Hinshaw said this is not because of a shortage of PPE but rather a transition to a sustainable long-term plan, as Alberta moves forward with economic relaunch.
Calgary and Brooks were allowed to reopen restaurants, cafés, hair salons and barbershops Monday, taking another step forward in the first phase of economic relaunch that began for the rest of the province on May 14.
Hinshaw said there are now 5,979 Albertans who have recovered from COVID-19, leaving 762 active cases in the province. The number remains low despite the loosening of restrictions in most of Alberta over a week ago.
“We have to remain vigilant because the virus has not gone away,” said Hinshaw. “The reason we have had a low number of cases is because of what we’ve done together and we need to continue to protect those who are most vulnerable in our society and limit the spread.”
The next part of reopening in Calgary and Brooks is scheduled for June 1, reintroducing day camps, places of worship and funeral services with sector-specific guidance. Hinshaw said the second phase of relaunch could happen as early as June 19, after analyzing the impact of the first stage of reopening.
Hinshaw expressed concern that the province’s success in containing the spread of COVID -19 has resulted in complacency from some who do not understand the seriousness of the novel coronavirus.
Another three people have reportedly died from COVID-19, including a man in his 80s from the
Intercare Brentwood Care Centre in Calgary, a woman in her 90s also from Brentwood Care Centre, and a woman in her 80s from the Calgary zone.
The two residents of the Intercare Brentwood Care Centre are the 16th and 17th residents of the facility reported to have died from COVID-19 since the outbreak began there in April. It has become the second-deadliest outbreak in Alberta.
The number of hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions remains low, with Hinshaw reporting 45 people in hospital Sunday, including five requiring intensive care. The provincial death toll now sits at 138.
Shortly before addressing the province during her news conference Monday afternoon, Hinshaw posted to Twitter to answer a common question she’s received about outdoor sports.
“I’ve received many questions about outdoor sports and when they might be able to operate. Sports teams are free to practice outside, as long as they follow public health measures like physical distancing,” her tweet read. “We will have specific guidance for outdoor sports available by the end of the week.”
Also Monday, some Albertans have access to health services such as non-urgent surgeries that require hospital stays.
Voluntary testing for asymptomatic staff and residents in long-term care also started Monday.
We’ve been able to meet demands despite enormous pressure on the global supply chain. Now ... it’s easier to get (PPE) on the open market.