What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Wednesday, April 15
Confirmed cases continue to rise, particularly in Calgary, as testing ramps up
The latest:
- Alberta reported 126 new cases from COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the provincial total to 1,996.
- Health officials are monitoring an outbreak at an oilsands facility and at multiple meatpacking plants.
- Premier Jason Kenney announced Wednesday the province will invest an extra $53 million to help deal with mental health problems and addictions related to the pandemic.
- Nursing students are being fast-tracked into service to handle pandemic.
- Alberta Health Services has started collecting and cleaning N95 masks for possible reuse.
- CBE students in Calgary won't see their grades drop based on assessments while learning from home.
What you need to know today in Alberta:
A network issue limited some reporting data from being released Wednesday, including the number of recovered cases of COVID-19 and the number of cases in each zone.
WATCH: How Alberta stockpiled medical equipment before COVID-19 struck:
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the chief medical officer of health, said the updated data will be available on Thursday.
The breakdown of cases by region in Alberta as of Tuesday afternoon:
- Calgary zone: 1,242.
- Edmonton zone: 402.
- North zone: 107.
- Central zone: 74.
- South zone: 36.
- Unknown: 9.
What you need to know today in Canada:
Long-term care facilities across Canada are in the spotlight as deaths continue to rip through the homes and experts question why warnings weren't heeded before the virus struck.
Meanwhile, along the quieter border with the United States, the Canadian Border Services Agency said service is being reduced at 27 land crossings in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec until further notice.
And on Wednesday, the federal government announced that contract, part-time and seasonal workers can now apply for emergency COVID-19 benefits.
WATCH: Finding a way to help during the pandemic:
That announcement comes after the federal government said Canadians re-entering the country must present a plan for self-isolation or be forced to stay at a quarantine facility, such as a hotel.
As of 6 a.m ET Wednesday, Canada had reported 27,063 presumptive and confirmed cases of COVID-19. The provinces and territories that post data about recovered cases list 8,248 cases as resolved or recovered.
A tally of COVID-19 deaths maintained by CBC News has recorded 980 deaths in Canada, with another two coronavirus-related deaths abroad.
Self-assessment:
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: How to physically distance in tricky situations:
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.