Virus outbreak at care centre Alberta’s worst
A COVID-19 outbreak at the Extendicare Hillcrest continuing care centre in northwest Calgary has resulted in the deaths of 20 residents, including three deaths reported Monday by Alberta’s top doctor.
The outbreak has now become the deadliest in Alberta, surpassing the outbreak at Mckenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre in which 19 residents died.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health in the province, extended her condolences once again to the loved ones of those who have died from COVID-19, informing people that three more Albertans were reported to have died Sunday and Monday.
The outbreak at Extendicare Hillcrest has 89 confirmed total cases, which includes the 20 residents who have died and 61 recoveries. As of Monday, there were only eight active cases remaining, according to Alberta Health.
The outbreak at Mckenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre currently has no active cases but it had climbed to 114 total cases, including 19 deaths. An outbreak at Intercare Brentwood Care Centre, which had been the second-deadliest outbreak for a few weeks, has resulted in 18 deaths, 61 recoveries and four active cases.
Monday’s reported deaths were of a woman in her 70s, a man in his 80s and a man in his 90s, each a resident at Extendicare Hillcrest.
Hinshaw expressed sadness in the loss of 149 lives in just over three months since the first case was detected on March 5. As of Monday, Canada had lost 7,835 people to COVID-19.
As another 64 cases of COVID -19 were reported in Alberta in the past 48 hours, the provincial government rolled out its universal mask initiative.
Albertans will now have access to 20 million free, non-medical masks at 600 drive-thru restaurants in the province.
The masks — distributed to prevent the spread of COVID -19 as the economy reopens — are available for free at select A&W, Mcdonald’s Canada and Tim Hortons drivethrus. People will be given a package of four non-medical masks, which are meant to supplement people’s efforts to find their own masks.
“Our restaurant owners in Alberta and their team members are eager to participate in this important program to distribute masks to Albertans,” said Mike Hancock, COO of Tim Hortons. “Personally, I feel very proud of our owners in Alberta,
and their commitment to serve their communities. There was no hesitation to take part in this, only excitement to contribute to such an important initiative.”
No purchase is necessary to receive the masks that are being distributed on an honour system with the expectation that people respect the limit of one package of four masks per person.
People with the ability to visit drive-thrus are encouraged to pick up masks for their family members or friends who may not be able to do so. More information is available online at alberta.ca/masks.
The masks have also been provided to many municipalities, First Nations communities, Metis settlements and local agencies, including rural and remote communities with limited or no access to drive-thrus.
No new COVID-19 statistics were released on Sunday by Alberta Health, so Monday’s numbers included the test results for the past 48 hours instead of the usual 24.
Hinshaw said 6,698 Albertans have now recovered from COVID -19.
From the 11,025 tests completed, Alberta Health Services confirmed there were 64 new cases, which brought the total of active cases to 355 provincewide. AHS has been slowly expanding asymptomatic testing since May 12 and, in that time, has processed 14,853 tests, finding only six positive cases.
Hinshaw said 44 people are in hospital with COVID -19, including six requiring intensive care.
After a week that saw four anti-racism protests in Calgary, Hinshaw said she encourages protesters to go for COVID -19 testing even if they are asymptomatic.
“As we start to see small increases in cases in some of our communities, we need to think creatively about how we hold space for voices that need to be heard while not risking the low case count that we have collectively worked so hard to achieve,” Hinshaw said.
Later this week, the province will be providing details about the second phase of Alberta’s economic relaunch.
Also Monday, Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced billing codes that allow people to consult with doctors over the phone or in a secure video conference will become permanent. The practice was started earlier this year, to provide an alternative to an in-person office visit during the pandemic lockdown.