What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Monday, May 4
Province of Alberta reports two consecutive days of less than 100 new cases
The latest:
- Cargill's meat plant, scene of Canada's largest outbreak with more than 900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among workers and one death, reopens despite union opposition.
- A Purolator facility in Calgary has been linked to 30 cases.
- Alberta reported 96 new cases and one death on Sunday afternoon.
- Approval for a COVID-19 rapid test ordered by AHS has been paused.
What you need to know today in Alberta:
Sunday afternoon marked the second day in a row where new cases in Alberta were in the double digits, down from the hundreds per day that have become the norm over the past weeks.
Watch: COVID-19: is airborne transmission possible?
That kind of reduction in numbers will be critical to the province's phased plan to reopen Alberta, starting with provincial parks and golf courses this weekend. The plan calls for improved outcomes before next steps can be taken.
In Calgary, courses did not reopen, but skateparks did; and in Edmonton, dog off-leash areas were back.
Meanwhile, in High River, the Cargill meat plan will reopen today despite the union representing workers trying to stop the restart. The plant is the site of Canada's largest outbreak of COVID-19.
Here are the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alberta as of Sunday, broken down by region:
- Calgary zone: 3,842.
- South zone: 1,075.
- Edmonton zone: 504.
- North zone: 221.
- Central zone: 88.
- Unknown: 38.
According to the Sunday update, Alberta Health Services completed 3,728 tests in the previous 24 hours.
What you need to know today in Canada:
Provinces across the country are starting to reopen to varying degrees. Some, like Quebec, have been hit hard by the virus, while others, like New Brunswick, have largely been spared.
Watch: How to physical distance in tricky situations
Saskatchewan starts easing restrictions today with a focus on outdoor activities and certain medical services.
As of 7:30 a.m. ET, Canada accounted for 59,474 presumptive and confirmed coronavirus cases. Provinces and territories listed 24,921 cases as recovered or resolved.
A tally maintained by CBC News based on provincial health data, regional health information and CBC's reporting lists 3,774 coronavirus-related deaths in Canada, with two known COVID-19-linked deaths of Canadians abroad.
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: Should people over 70 self-isolate until there is a vaccine?
If you have symptoms, even mild, you are to self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms.
You can find Alberta Health Services' latest coronavirus updates here.
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.