Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

Source: AHS.ca

Stay Up To Date By Going To Alberta Health Services Website

For Up To Date Stats & What Zone Cases Are In Click Here!

FOR INFORMATION ON RESTRICTIONS & ENHANCED PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES CLICK HERE

#AlbertaCares <-- Use this Hashtag to spread the word about Covid-19

Cases in Alberta

538 current hospitalizations 150 current ICU 2,199 total deaths

10,017 active cases 7.73% percent positivity, 7-day average 80 years average age at death

2,615,747 total doses administered 50.4% population who received at least one dose 8.1% population fully vaccinated

 

Data included in the interactive data application are up-to-date as of end of day May 26, 2021, unless stated otherwise.

Variants in Alberta

To date, 3 variants of concern have been identified in Alberta. The B.1.1.7 variant is spreading rapidly and has become the dominant strain in Alberta.

Anyone who has been infected with a variant strain will test positive for COVID-19. Positive tests are screened again for all variants to determine the exact strain.

B.1.1.7 Variant (United Kingdom)	B.1.351 Variant (South Africa)	P.1 Variant (Brazil)
First identified in the United Kingdom, this is now the most common variant of concern in Alberta.   Research to date has shown this variant spreads more easily and can cause more severe illness. Vaccines continue to be effective against this variant.	First identified in South Africa, research has shown this variant spreads more easily and may be capable of re-infecting people who have previously tested positive for COVID-19. Vaccines may be somewhat less effective against infections with this variant, but will provide some protection against severe outcomes.	First identified in Brazil, research has shown this variant spreads more easily and is capable of re-infecting people who have previously tested positive for COVID-19. It is unknown if vaccine effectiveness is changed against this variant.

What we know

Knowledge and understanding of the COVID-19 variants is evolving rapidly. Scientists and public health officials around the world are studying variant strains and how the current vaccines may help protect against them.

Current evidence suggests the variants of concern have one or more of the following traits:

• are more contagious and spread more easily than the original strain
• cause more severe illness, which could result in more hospitalizations and deaths
• have the same symptoms as the original virus, including cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, and sore throat (see the full list of symptoms)

Vaccine effectiveness and protection

Vaccines provide some level of protection for all variants of concern. Research is ongoing to determine how the variants affect vaccine effectiveness.

The best defense against COVID-19 and all variants of concern continues to be:

• getting vaccinated as soon as you're eligible
• following all public health measures
• isolating or quarantining according to requirements if you test positive, are a close contact, or return from international travel

Case study: How one case turned into many

One Albertan returned from travel with a case of a COVID-19 variant of concern. Instead of quarantining alone for 14 days following return from travel outside Canada, the infected traveller socialized with a friend during quarantine.

It kicked off a chain of COVID-19 infections that spread far beyond that one case. This is a real case, discovered during contact tracing.

 

Learn more about COVID-19 variants:

• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stronger public health measures

Mandatory restrictions will safely ease as vaccine targets are reached and hospitalizations decline.

• COVID-19 regional active cases

Getting back to normal

Albertans have been working hard to stop the spike over the last few weeks. Active cases are going down and vaccination rates are going up.

Albertans have an incentive to continue following public health measures and get vaccinated as soon as possible. Alberta's Open for Summer Plan safely eases restrictions in 3 stages as vaccination targets are reached and hospitalizations decline. If Albertans continue doing their part, all restrictions could be lifted by late June or early July.

Alberta will enter Stage 1 on June 1. Until then, all current provincewide restrictions remain in place, with additional restrictions in high case regions.

• CURRENT RESTRICTIONS

  Provincewide restrictions in place. Additional restrictions for high case regions.

  We are here

• STAGE 1

  Target: 50% first dose + <800 hospitalizations and declining

  Starting June 1

• STAGE 2

  Target: 60% first dose + <500 hospitalizations and declining

  Starting 2 weeks after target met

• STAGE 3

  Target: 70% first dose

• Starting 2 weeks after target met

 

This 3-stage roadmap outlines how restrictions will ease while protecting the health-care system and increasing vaccination rates in the province.

COVID-19 transmission will continue to be monitored. If required, a stage may be paused to respond to trends at regional or provincial levels. Sustained reopening will require Albertans to get fully vaccinated with 2 doses during the summer to prevent future spread.

These restriction changes apply provincewide. Additional details will be released before each stage.

Stage 1: Two weeks after 50% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose, and hospitalizations are below 800 and declining. Effective June 1 unless stated otherwise.

• Places of worship – 15% of fire code occupancy (effective May 28)
• Outdoor social gatherings – up to 10 people (indoor social gatherings still not permitted)
• Outdoor physical, performance and recreation activities – up to 10 distanced people, all ages
• Personal and wellness services – re-open, by appointment only
• Funeral services – up to 20 people, not including facility staff, funeral clergy or organizers not considered guests (receptions remain prohibited)
• Wedding ceremonies – up to 10 people, including officiant, bride/groom, witnesses (receptions remain prohibited)
• Restaurants – 4 people per table max, outdoors, households only or 2 close contact for those living alone
• Retail - 15% of fire code occupancy (must maintain ability to distance)
• Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect

Stage 2: Two weeks after 60% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose, and hospitalizations are below 500 and declining. Expected to be in effect mid-June.

• Outdoor social gatherings – up to 20 people with distancing (indoor social gatherings still not permitted)
• Indoor recreation, entertainment and other settings (rec centres, arenas, casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, galleries, libraries, etc.) – open at 1/3 of fire code occupancy
• Gyms and fitness studios – open for solo and drop-in activities and indoor fitness classes with 3 metre distancing
• Funeral services – up to 20 people, indoors and outdoors (receptions permitted outdoors only)
• Wedding ceremonies – up to 20 people, indoors and outdoors (receptions permitted outdoors only)
• Places of worship – 1/3 of fire code occupancy
• Personal and wellness services – resume walk-in service
• Post-secondary – resume in-person learning
• Restaurants – 6 people per table max, indoors or outdoors
• Retail – 1/3 of fire code occupancy (must maintain ability to distance)
• Youth activities (day camps, play centres) – resume with restrictions
• Youth and adult sports – resume with no restrictions, indoors and outdoors
• Outdoor public gatherings (concerts/festivals) – up to 150 people
• Outdoor fixed seating facilities (grandstands) – 1/3 seated capacity
• Work from home order is lifted but still recommended
• Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect

Stage 3: Two weeks after 70% of Albertans 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) have received at least one dose. Expected to be effective in late June or early July.

• All restrictions lifted, including ban on indoor social gatherings
• Isolation requirements for confirmed cases of COVID-19 and some protective measures in continuing care settings remain

Cases by zone

Table updated May 27. Numbers accurate as of end of day May 26.
*Active cases include both community cases and hospitalizations
**Zone of current hospitalization and current ICU admission based on location of hospitalization, not zone of patient residence.
***ICU cases are a subset of those in hospital.

Location	Confirmed cases	Active cases*	Recovered cases	In hospital**	In intensive care***	Deaths	Tests completed	People tested
In Canada	1,368,619	-	-	-	-	25,362	-	-
In Alberta	225,937 (513 on May 26)	10,017	213,721	538	150	2,199	4,501,525 (9,017 on May 26)	2,135,890
Calgary zone	91,820	4,150	87,003	218	57	667	-	-
Edmonton zone	76,345	2,616	72,655	185	61	1,074	-	-
Central zone	19,979	1,145	18,680	53	12	154	-	-
South zone	12,235	591	11,515	34	7	129	-	-
North zone	25,538	1,511	23,852	48	13	175	-	-
Unknown	20	4	16	0

Variant cases

Alberta is screening a proportion of positive cases for variant strains of COVID-19. Active variant cases are based on samples only and should not be considered representative of total COVID-19 cases.

• New variant cases identified: 312 on May 26
• Active variant cases: 3,409

Case numbers are updated daily. View more variant stats on the interactive data app.

 

COVID-19 R values

The R value, also known as the reproduction number, describes whether cases are currently increasing, decreasing or staying the same. It tells us average number of people that someone with COVID-19 will infect.

For example, if the R value is:

• at 1, then an infected person will infect one other person, on average
• below 1, it means the rate of transmission was decreasing during that period
• above 1, the transmission rate was increasing

R values from May 17 to May 23 (confidence interval)

• Alberta provincewide: 0.67 (0.65-0.69)
• Edmonton Zone: 0.71 (0.67-0.75)
• Calgary Zone: 0.62 (0.60-0.65)
• Rest of Alberta: 0.71 (0.68-0.75)

COVID-19 R values are updated weekly.

 

Outbreaks in Alberta

• Acute care and continuing care facilities (including group homes) are reported publicly when there are 2 or more cases, indicating that a transmission within the facility has occurred.
  • Outbreak control measures are put in place at continuing care facilities and group homes with a single confirmed case, as a precaution.
  • AHS Acute Care Outbreaks in Alberta provides more information on outbreaks in hospitals.
• Prisons, correctional facilities, shelters and child care settings are listed when there are 5 or more cases.
• All other non-healthcare workplaces, events, public settings (restaurants, salons and gyms) and sports activities are listed when there are 10 or more cases.
• Outbreaks are declared over when 4 weeks have passed since the last case was identified, so not all outbreaks listed below have current transmission happening.
• This list is for general information purposes and should not be used to guide public health decision-making.

 

Outbreak locations by zone

• Outbreak information is updated on Tuesdays and Fridays each week.
• Case numbers for outbreaks at specific sites are not provided online because they change rapidly and often.

Last updated: May 25

Acute care facilities

• Grey Nuns Community Hospital
• Leduc Community Hospital
• Westview Health Centre – Stony Plain

Long term care facilities

• Capital Care Grandview, Edmonton
• Capital Care Norwood, Edmonton
• Chartwell Emerald Hills, Sherwood Park
• Extendicare Leduc
• Jasper Place Continuing Care Centre, Edmonton

Supportive living/home living sites

• Ambrose Place, Edmonton
• Chartwell Emerald Hills, Sherwood Park
• GEF Ottewel Place Lodge, Edmonton
• GEF Sakaw Terrace Seniors Housing, Edmonton
• Kiwanis Place Lodge, Edmonton
• March of Dimes Supportive Living, Edmonton
• McQueen Lodge, Edmonton
• Mirka Care Services, Edmonton
• Riverbend Retirement Residence, Edmonton
• Touchmark at Wedgewood, Edmonton
• Virginia Park Lodge, Edmonton
• Wild Rose Retirement Residence, Edmonton

Other facilities and settings

• A and D Childcare Centre, Sherwood Park
• ABC Child Development Centre Daycare and Out of School Care, Edmonton
• Alberta Furnace Cleaning, Edmonton
• Alliance Refractories at Imperial Oil site, Edmonton
• Amazing Grace Daycare, Edmonton
• Amazon, Nisku
• Aurora Cannabis, Edmonton
• Brightpath Windermere, Edmonton
• Building Products of Canada, Edmonton
• ClearStream Wear Technologies, Sherwood Park
• Costco, Sherwood Park
• Costco (Winterburn Road), Edmonton
• CSM Pump, Nisku
• Edmonton Institution
• Edmonton Remand Centre
• Fort Saskatchewan Boys & Girls Club
• Heartland Petrochemical Complex – CUB unit, Fort Saskatchewan
• Heartland Petrochemical Complex – Kiewit, Fort Saskatchewan
• Heartland Petrochemical Complex – Polypropylene unit, Fort Saskatchewan
• Heritage Daycare Centre, Edmonton
• Heritage Hills Montessori Child Development, Sherwood Park
• Highlands School construction site, Edmonton
• Ideal Daycare, Edmonton
• Ideal West Daycare, Edmonton
• Intelcom, Edmonton
• Insta Auto Solutions, St. Albert
• KDM Management Inc., St. Albert
• Kidlets Daycare Preschool & OSC, Edmonton
• Kids Cove Daycare, Edmonton
• Lilydale Sofina Foods, Edmonton
• Maple Leaf Foods, Edmonton
• Olive Tree Learning Centre, Sherwood Park
• Parkland Farm Equipment, Stony Plain
• Seeds and Sprouts Childcare, Beaumont
• Silent-Aire, Sherwood Park
• Sherwin William Commercial Paint Store, Edmonton
• Sherwood Ford, Sherwood Park
• Suncor Edmonton refinery, Sherwood Park
• The Little Potato Company, Edmonton
• The Meadows Early Learning and Child Care, Edmonton
• Tiny Hoppers Summerside, Edmonton
• Tiny Steps Child Care Centre, Edmonton
• TransAlta Keephills, Parkland County
• Treehouse Montessori Daycare, Edmonton
• TWS Engineering, Edmonton
• Victoria Daycare & After School Care, Edmonton
• Webber Greens Daycare, Edmonton

Cases by zone

 

Table updated April 18. Numbers accurate as of end of day April 17.
*Active cases include both community cases and hospitalizations
**Zone of current hospitalization and current ICU admission based on location of hospitalization, not zone of patient residence.
***ICU cases are a subset of those in hospital.

Location	Confirmed cases	Active cases*	Recovered cases	In hospital**	In intensive care***	Deaths	Tests completed	People tested
In Canada	1,115,423	-	-	-	-	23,594	-	-
In Alberta	170,795 (1,516 on April 17)	17,935	150,820	451	103	2,040	3,955,098 (15,343 on April 17)	1,980,137
Calgary zone	67,541	7,879	59,044	187	50	618	-	-
Edmonton zone	62,834	4,788	57,015	150	34	1,031	-	-
Central zone	13,804	1,849	11,826	49	4	129	-	-
South zone	9,353	905	8,336	32	9	112	-	-
North zone	17,165	2,441	14,574	33	6	150	-	-
Unknown	98	73	25	0	0	0	-	-

Variant cases

Alberta is monitoring for variant strains of COVID-19 that have a higher infection rate.

• New variant cases identified: 800 on April 17
• Active variant cases: 9,768 (54.5% of active cases)

Case numbers are updated daily. View more variant stats on the interactive data app.

COVID-19 R values

The R value, also known as the reproduction number, describes whether cases are currently increasing, decreasing or staying the same. It tells us average number of people that someone with COVID-19 will infect.

For example, if the R value is:

• at 1, then an infected person will infect one other person, on average
• below 1, it means the rate of transmission was decreasing during that period
• above 1, the transmission rate was increasing

R values from April 5 to April 11 (confidence interval)

• Alberta provincewide: 1.12 (1.09-1.14)
• Edmonton Zone: 1.18 (1.13-1.22)
• Calgary Zone: 1.08 (1.04-1.11)
• Rest of Alberta: 1.13 (1.08-1.18)

COVID-19 R values will be updated weekly.

Outbreaks in Alberta

• Acute care and continuing care facilities (including group homes) are reported publicly when there are 2 or more cases, indicating that a transmission within the facility has occurred.
  • Outbreak control measures are put in place at continuing care facilities and group homes with a single confirmed case, as a precaution.
  • AHS Acute Care Outbreaks in Alberta provides more information on outbreaks in hospitals.
• Prisons, correctional facilities, shelters and child care settings are listed when there are 5 or more cases.
• All other non-healthcare workplaces, events, public settings (restaurants, salons and gyms) and sports activities are listed when there are 10 or more cases.
• Outbreaks are declared over when 4 weeks have passed since the last case was identified, so not all outbreaks listed below have current transmission happening.
• This list is for general information purposes and should not be used to guide public health decision-making.

Outbreak locations by zone

• Outbreak information is updated on Tuesdays and Fridays each week.
• Case numbers for outbreaks at specific sites are not provided online because they change rapidly and often.

Last updated: April 16

Acute care facilities

• Cross Cancer Institute
• Grey Nuns Community Hospital
• Leduc Community Hospital
• Misericordia Community Hospital
• Royal Alexandra Hospital

Long term care facilities

• Capital Care Grandview, Edmonton
• Churchill Manor, Edmonton
• Covenant Health St. Joseph’s, Edmonton

Supportive living/home living sites

• Ambrose Place, Edmonton
• Pleasantview Place Lodge, Edmonton
• Roozen Family Hospice Centre, Edmonton
• Shepherd’s Care Foundation Vanguard, Edmonton
• Touchmark at Wedgewood, Edmonton

Other facilities and settings

• Amazon, Nisku
• Canada Cartage, Edmonton
• Child’s Playce Child Care and OSC, Edmonton
• CN Rail Walker Yard, Edmonton
• Edmonton Remand Centre
• Friendly Frog Daycare, Edmonton
• Heartland Petrochemical Complex, Fort Saskatchewan
• Inglewood Child Learning Centre, Edmonton
• Joey Bell Tower, Edmonton
• Kidco Community Sunshine Factory, Edmonton
• Kids Haven Childcare, St. Albert
• Kiewit Construction, Edmonton
• Lilydale Sofina Foods, Edmonton
• Logican Technologies, Edmonton
• Millwoods Registry, Edmonton
• Nerval Corporation, Edmonton
• Poundmaker Lodge Treatment Centre, Sturgeon
• Saputo Dairy Products, Edmonton
• Skills Society, Edmonton
• Sofina Foods Inc., Edmonton
• Stahl Peterbilt, Edmonton
• St. Albert Canadian Reformed Church, Sturgeon County
• Stepping Stones Kensington Child Development Centre, Edmonton
• Trenton Cold Storage, Edmonton

Overview

The school outbreak map shows the current status of COVID-19 in K to 12 schools across Alberta.

Public health measures are in place to support the safe operation of schools. This includes mandatory masking, physical distancing when possible, enhanced cleaning, and daily symptom screening.

If a case is confirmed in a school, contact tracers and public health officials identify potential exposure and limit spread.

School status classification

Updated reporting took effect January 18, 2021.

Open

• No school status to report.
• The school continues near normal operations with public health measures in place.

Alert (1 to 4 cases)

• Parents are notified by their child’s school when a single confirmed case and when multiple confirmed cases are identified within the school.
• Schools with 2 or more cases are reported on the map.
• When 2 or more confirmed cases are identified within the school, public health officials initiate an investigation to monitor risk level and work with the school.
• After the first 2 cases within 14 days are identified, additional cases in the school will be included in the investigation as long as there is less than 28 days between subsequent cases.
• The alert investigation is considered over when there have been no new confirmed cases in the school for 28 days.

Outbreak (5 to 9 cases) and (10+ cases)

• An outbreak is reported when 5 or more cases are confirmed in an investigation, where the disease could have been acquired or transmitted in the school.
• Outbreaks are reported on the map as 5 to 9 cases or 10+ cases.
• Risk monitoring continues. Additional public health measures may be required. The school may move to scenario 2 (partial in-person classes) or scenario 3 (at-home learning).
• The outbreak investigation is considered over when there have been no new confirmed cases in the school for 28 days.

---

Cases by zone

Table updated April 6. Numbers accurate as of end of day April 5.
*Active cases include both community cases and hospitalizations
**Zone of current hospitalization and current ICU admission based on location of hospitalization, not zone of patient residence.
***ICU cases are a subset of those in hospital.

Location	Confirmed cases	Active cases*	Recovered cases	In hospital**	In intensive care***	Deaths	Tests completed	People tested
In Canada	1,015,304	-	-	-	-	23,121	-	-
In Alberta	154,125 (931 on April 5)	10,809	141,315	328	76	2,001	3,774,880 (9,126 on April 5)	1,926,474
Calgary zone	60,207	5,122	54,476	130	37	609	-	-
Edmonton zone	58,385	2,447	54,924	97	19	1,014	-	-
Central zone	12,007	878	11,006	30	5	123	-	-
South zone	8,526	874	7,546	36	10	106	-	-
North zone	14,786	1,394	13,243	35	5	149	-	-
Unknown	214	94	120	0	0	0	-	-

Variant cases

Alberta is monitoring for variant strains of COVID-19 that have a higher infection rate.

• New variant cases identified: 676 on April 5
• Active variant cases: 4,604 (42.6% of active cases)

Case numbers are updated daily. View more variant stats on the interactive data app.

COVID-19 R values

The R value, also known as the reproduction number, describes whether cases are currently increasing, decreasing or staying the same. It tells us average number of people that someone with COVID-19 will infect.

For example, if the R value is:

• at 1, then an infected person will infect one other person, on average
• below 1, it means the rate of transmission was decreasing during that period
• above 1, the transmission rate was increasing

R values from March 29 to April 4 (confidence interval)

• Alberta provincewide: 1.17 (1.14-1.20)
• Edmonton Zone: 1.18 (1.11-1.24)
• Calgary Zone: 1.17 (1.12-1.21)
• Rest of Alberta: 1.13 (1.08-1.19)

COVID-19 R values will be updated weekly.

Outbreaks in Alberta

• Acute care and continuing care facilities (including group homes) are reported publicly when there are 2 or more cases, indicating that a transmission within the facility has occurred.
  • Outbreak control measures are put in place at continuing care facilities and group homes with a single confirmed case, as a precaution.
  • AHS Acute Care Outbreaks in Alberta provides more information on outbreaks in hospitals.
• Prisons, correctional facilities, shelters and child care settings are listed when there are 5 or more cases.
• All other non-healthcare workplaces, events, public settings (restaurants, salons and gyms) and sports activities are listed when there are 10 or more cases.
• Outbreaks are declared over when 4 weeks have passed since the last case was identified, so not all outbreaks listed below have current transmission happening.
• This list is for general information purposes and should not be used to guide public health decision-making.

Outbreak locations by zone

• Outbreak information is updated on Tuesdays and Fridays each week.
• Case numbers for outbreaks at specific sites are not provided online because they change rapidly and often.

 

Modelling and projections

Variant projections

Several new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented over the last few months. Of particular concern are two variants with higher infection rates that were first identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Alberta developed projections of the UK variant to demonstrate how it could spread rapidly if strong measures are not in place to limit in-person interactions and transmission. This variant was chosen as more data is currently available.

• COVID-19 variant projections (January 25, 2021)

Modelling planning scenarios

In April 2020, Alberta used modelling to demonstrate potential COVID-19 case trends during the summer months. This helped us make decisions and prepare hospitals to care for critical and acute patients as we learned how to better treat and prevent the virus.

The scenarios in the models did not become a reality in Alberta, and the province’s hospitalization rate continues to be much lower than the estimate in the low scenario.

Alberta now has months of data and experience to inform our ongoing response to COVID-19. No updated models are being planned at this time.

• Alberta COVID-19 modelling - April 8  (PDF, 828 KB)
• Alberta COVID-19 modelling update - April 28 (PDF, 935 KB)

Outbreaks in Alberta

Last updated: April 6

Acute care facilities

• Grey Nuns Community Hospital
• Misericordia Community Hospital
• Royal Alexandra Hospital
• University of Alberta Hospital

Long term care facilities

• Churchill Manor, Edmonton

Supportive living/home living sites

• Private group homes (2), Edmonton

Other facilities and settings

• Canada Cartage, Edmonton
• Child’s Playce Child Care and OSC, Edmonton
• CN Rail Walker Yard, Edmonton
• Edmonton Remand Centre
• Friendly Frog Daycare, Edmonton
• Heartland Petrochemical Complex, Fort Saskatchewan
• Jasper Place Family Resource Centre, Edmonton
• Joey Bell Tower, Edmonton
• Kidco Community Sunshine Factory, Edmonton
• Kids Haven Childcare, St. Albert
• Lilydale Sofina Foods, Edmonton
• Logican Technologies, Edmonton
• Millwoods Registry, Edmonton
• Poundmaker Lodge Treatment Centre, Sturgeon
• Saputo Dairy Products, Edmonton
• Skills Society, Edmonton
• Stepping Stones Kensington Child Development Centre, Edmonton
• Trenton Cold Storage, Edmonton

Cases by zone

Due to system upgrades, only preliminary, summary case information will be provided on March 7. Full numbers will be provided the following day on March 8.

March 7 preliminary update:

• 300 additional cases, including 54 new variant of concern cases
• 8,100 laboratory tests completed

March 6 update: the information below is accurate as of end-of-day March 5.

Table updated March 6. Numbers accurate as of end of day March 5.
*Active cases include both community cases and hospitalizations
**Zone of current hospitalization and current ICU admission based on location of hospitalization, not zone of patient residence.
***ICU cases are a subset of those in hospital.

Location	Confirmed cases	Active cases*	Recovered cases	In hospital**	In intensive care***	Deaths	Tests completed	People tested
In Canada	882,102	-	-	-	-	22,193	-	-
In Alberta	135,537 (341 on March 5)	4,649	128,974	247	42	1,914	3,462,799 (8,142 on March 5)	1,834,591
Calgary zone	51,842	1,659	49,592	81	14	591	-	-
Edmonton zone	54,266	1,154	52,136	70	13	976	-	-
Central zone	10,365	511	9,739	34	8	115	-	-
South zone	6,677	353	6,232	30	6	92	-	-
North zone	12,280	958	11,182	32	1	140	-	-
Unknown	107	14	93	0	0	0	-	-

Variant cases

Alberta is monitoring for variant strains of COVID-19 that have a higher infection rate. Case numbers are updated daily.

Due to system upgrades occurring today, a breakdown of variant of concern cases will be provided on March 8. The information below is current as of end-of-day March 5.

Table updated March 6.

Location	B.1.1.7 (UK variant)	B.1.351 (South African variant)	Total
In Alberta	589 (36 on March 5)	10	599
Calgary Zone	219	8	227
Edmonton Zone	245	2	247
Central Zone	120	0	120
South Zone	0	0	0
North Zone	5	0	5
Unknown	0	0	0

COVID-19 R values

The R value, also known as the reproduction number, describes whether cases are currently increasing, decreasing or staying the same. It tells us average number of people that someone with COVID-19 will infect.

For example, if the R value is:

• at 1, then an infected person will infect one other person, on average
• below 1, it means the rate of transmission was decreasing during that period
• above 1, the transmission rate was increasing

R values from February 22 to 28 (confidence interval)

• Alberta provincewide: 1.01 (0.97-1.06)
• Edmonton Zone: 1.16 (1.07-1.26)
• Calgary Zone: 1.01 (0.94-1.08)
• Rest of Alberta: 0.94 (0.89-1.01)

COVID-19 R values will be updated weekly.

Current situation

• Mandatory public health measures are in effect provincewide, including no indoor social gatherings, mask requirements, and business closures and capacity reductions.
• Vaccine distribution is underway – 235,508 doses administered as of February 28.

Cases by zone

Table updated March 1. Numbers accurate as of end of day Feb. 28.
*Active cases include both community cases and hospitalizations
**Zone of current hospitalization and current ICU admission based on location of hospitalization, not zone of patient residence.
***ICU cases are a subset of those in hospital.

Location	Confirmed cases	Active cases*	Recovered cases	In hospital**	In intensive care***	Deaths	Tests completed	People tested
In Canada	866,794	-	-	-	-	21,996	-	-
In Alberta	133,795 (291 on Feb. 28)	4,674	127,233	257	48	1,888	3,418,308 (5,933 on Feb. 28)	1,822,163
Calgary zone	51,189	1,562	49,046	102	14	581	-	-
Edmonton zone	53,807	1,014	51,823	69	16	970	-	-
Central zone	10,198	672	9,415	33	10	111	-	-
South zone	6,541	328	6,123	28	7	90	-	-
North zone	11,952	1,084	10,732	25	1	136	-	-
Unknown	108	14	94	0	0	0	-	-

OUTBREAKS

North zone

Acute care facilities

• Athabasca Healthcare Centre
• Boyle Healthcare Centre
• Grimshaw/Berwyn and District Community Health Centre
• Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Grande Prairie
• Valleyview Health Centre

Long term care facilities

• Extendicare Bonnyville
• Grande Prairie Care Centre
• William J. Cadzow - Lac La Biche Healthcare Centre, Auxiliary

Supportive living/home living sites

• Heritage Lodge, Grande Prairie
• Points West Living, Peace River
• Private group home, Grande Prairie
• Signature Support Services, Grande Prairie

Other facilities and settings

• Care Human Services, Grande Prairie
• Cenovus Foster Creek, Cold Lake
• CNRL Albian, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• CNRL Horizon, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• CNRL Kirby, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• Imperial Oil, Cold Lake
• Legacy Childcare, Slave Lake
• Kearl Lake work site, Fort Mckay
• Knowledge Tree Childcare Centre, Valleyview
• McCullough Centre, Gunn
• North American Construction Group, Fort McMurray
• Northern Addictions Centre, Grande Prairie
• Peace River Correctional Centre
• Rotary House, Grande Prairie
• Shell Gold Creek, Grande Prairie
• St. Lawrence Centre, Grande Prairie
• Suncor base plant, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• Suncor Fort Hills, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• Syncrude Aurora, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• Syncrude Mildred Lake site, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
• Tolko Industries, High Level
• Walmart, Grande Prairie
• YMCA Eagle Ridge child care, Fort McMurray

 

Edmonton zone

Acute care facilities

• Misericordia Community Hospital
• Sturgeon Community Hospital, St. Albert

Long term care facilities

• Aspen House, Morinville
• Capital Care Norwood, Edmonton
• Capital Care Strathcona, Sherwood Park
• Covenant Health St. Joseph’s, Edmonton
• Covenant Health Youville Home, St. Albert
• Extendicare Eaux Claires, Edmonton
• Extendicare Leduc
• Grand Manor, Edmonton
• Hardisty Care Centre, Edmonton
• Jasper Place Continuing Care Centre, Edmonton
• Jubilee Lodge Nursing Home, Edmonton
• Laurier House Lynnwood, Edmonton
• Miller Crossing Care Centre, Edmonton
• Rivercrest Care Centre, Fort Saskatchewan
• Shepherd’s Care Eden House, Edmonton

Supportive living/home living sites

• Chartwell Heritage Valley, Edmonton
• Crystal Lily Homes, Edmonton
• Devonshire Village, Edmonton
• Emmanuel Home, Edmonton
• Garneau Hall, Edmonton
• Lifestyle Options Terra Losa, Edmonton
• LoSeCa Foundation private group home, St. Albert
• Private group homes (3), Edmonton
• Shepherd’s Care Vanguard, Edmonton
• St. Thomas Health Centre, Edmonton
• Summerwood Village Retirement Residence, Sherwood Park
• Villa Marguerite, Edmonton

Other facilities and settings

• Acat Metal Drilling, Edmonton
• Amazon warehouse, Edmonton
• Bunzi Canada, Edmonton
• Children of the World Daycare, Edmonton
• CN Rail Walker Yard, Edmonton
• Edmonton Convention Centre
• Edmonton Institution
• Edmonton Remand Centre
• Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre
• Gemini Machineworks Inc., Nisku
• Heartland Petrochemical Complex, Fort Saskatchewan
• Lilydale Sofina Foods, Edmonton
• Logican Technologies, Edmonton
• McDonald’s Harvest Pointe, Edmonton
• Stepping Stones Kensington Child Development Centre, Edmonton
• Tipaskin Educational Daycare and Out of School Care, Edmonton
• Tot Spot Academy, St. Albert
• Walmart Tamarack, Edmonton
• YMCA William Lutsky child care, Edmonton

 

central zone

Long term care facilities

• Bethany Meadows, Camrose
• Vermilion Health Centre

Supportive living/home living sites

• Doreen Johnson House, Wetaskiwin
• Drumheller Institution
• Extendicare Michener Hill, Red Deer
• Michener Services, Red Deer
• Parkland group home, Red Deer
• Private group home, Red Deer
• Providence Place Daysland, Daysland
• Revera Aspen Ridge, Red Deer
• Seasons Camrose
• Sunset Manor, Innisfail

Other facilities and settings

• College Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church, Lacombe
• Love, Fun & Learning Day Home, Red Deer
• Olymel, Red Deer
• Private day home, Penhold
• Red Deer Remand Centre

 

Calgary zone

Acute care facilities

• Canmore General Hospital
• Didsbury Hospital
• Strathmore Hospital

Long term care facilities

• Agecare Glenmore, Calgary
• Bethany, Calgary
• Bethany Riverview, Calgary
• Carewest Colonel Belcher, Calgary
• Carewest Royal Park, Calgary
• Glamorgan Care Centre, Calgary
• Intercare Southwood, Calgary
• Prince of Peace The Harbour, Calgary

Supportive living/home living sites

• Agecare Sagewood, Strathmore
• Agecare Walden Heights, Calgary
• Beaver Dam Lodge, Calgary
• Boardwalk Retirement Community, Calgary
• Carewest George Boyack, Calgary
• Carewest Glenmore Park, Calgary
• Father Lacombe Nursing Home, Calgary
• Revera Scenic Acres, Calgary
• Rijamo Care Home, Calgary
• Silvera for Seniors Aspen Lodge, Calgary
• Silvera Valleyview Lodge, Calgary
• Southwood Hospice, Calgary
• Swan Evergreen Village, Calgary
• United Active Living Garrison Green, Calgary
• Vecova group home, Calgary

Other facilities and settings

• AAA Doors, Calgary
• Alpha House Mustard Seed, Calgary
• Amazon sort centre, Balzac
• Block 23 construction site, Calgary
• Calgary Alpha House
• Calgary Dream Centre
• Calgary Drop-In Centre
• Calgary Drop-In Centre warehouse
• Calgary Remand Centre
• Cargill Case Ready, Calgary
• Cargill Foods, High River
• DCL Construction Services Ltd., Calgary
• Dexterra group, Balzac
• Dominion Construction worksite, Calgary
• Engineered Air, Calgary
• First Impressions day home, Airdrie
• Harmony Beef, Rocky View County
• Highline Mushrooms, Crossfield
• Jesus is Lord Church (48 Ave.), Calgary
• K-Bro Linen, Calgary
• Lilydale Sofina Foods, Calgary
• Little Worlds Learning Centre, Calgary
• Nakiska Ski Lodge
• Northland Volkswagen, Calgary
• Real Canadian Superstore (15915 Macleod Trail SE), Calgary
• Saputo Dairy Products, Calgary
• Walmart Logistics, Rocky View County
• Walmart McKenzie. Calgary
• Wildwood Cabinets, Calgary

 

South zone

Acute care facilities

• Cardston Health Centre

Long term care facilities

• The Valleyview, Medicine Hat

Supportive living/home living sites

• Edith Cavell Care Centre, Lethbridge
• Quest Support group home, Lethbridge
• The View at Lethbridge

Other facilities and settings

• Haul All Equipment, Lethbridge
• Lethbridge Alpha House

Cases in K-12 schools

The school status map shows the current status of COVID-19 cases in K to 12 schools across Alberta.

See the K-12 school status map

Information for Albertans

COVID-19

 

Effective February 18, 2021: This page will not longer be maintained. Please update your bookmarks.

All information is now available through the revised COVID-19 page.

• Changes in Health Services
• COVID-19 vs. Influenza
• How to Care for COVID-19 Patient at Home
• Physical Distancing
• Prevent the Spread
• Public Health Measures
• Resources for Specific Health Conditions
• Symptoms, About, Spread, Risks
• Test Results & Next Steps
• Travel

Cases by zone

Mandatory public health measures are in effect provincewide, including no social gatherings, mask requirements, and temporary business closures and capacity reductions.

Vaccine distribution is underway – 152,056 doses administered as of February 16.

Table updated Feb. 17. Numbers accurate as of end of day Feb. 16.
*Active cases include both community cases and hospitalizations
**Zone of current hospitalization and current ICU admission based on location of hospitalization, not zone of patient residence.
***ICU cases are a subset of those in hospital.

Location	Confirmed cases	Active cases*	Recovered cases	In hospital**	In intensive care***	Deaths	Tests completed	People tested
In Canada	831,854	-	-	-	-	21,404	-	-
In Alberta	129,615 (277 on Feb. 16)	4,857	122,960	370	60	1,798	3,321,090 (7,476 on Feb. 16)	1,794,831
Calgary zone	49,791	1,823	47,410	136	27	558	-	-
Edmonton zone	52,847	1,270	50,647	122	21	930	-	-
Central zone	9,642	697	8,844	31	4	101	-	-
South zone	6,250	338	5,830	36	8	82	-	-
North zone	10,972	719	10,126	45	0	127	-	-
Unknown	113	10	103	0	0	0	-	-

COVID-19 statistics

The interactive data application provides aggregate statistics on cases in Alberta, including age range, sex and characteristics. Data reported in the table below and in the app is based on calendar day.

View the interactive data app

COVID-19 notifications

Subscribe to receive email updates about COVID-19 public health measures in Alberta.

Sign up for notifications

 

Variant cases

Alberta is monitoring for variant strains of COVID-19 that have a higher infection rate. Case numbers are updated every weekday.

Table updated Feb. 17.

Location	B.1.1.7 (UK variant)	B.1.351 (South African variant)	Total
In Alberta	218 (4 on Feb. 16)	7	225
Calgary Zone	94	5	99
Edmonton Zone	77	2	79
Central Zone	47	0	47
South Zone	0	0	0
North Zone	0	0	0

COVID-19 R values

The R value, also known as the reproduction number, describes whether cases are currently increasing, decreasing or staying the same. It tells us average number of people that someone with COVID-19 will infect.

For example, if the R value is:

• at 1, then an infected person will infect one other person, on average
• below 1, it means the rate of transmission was decreasing during that period
• above 1, the transmission rate was increasing

COVID-19 R values will be updated weekly.

R values from February 8 to February 14 (confidence interval)

• Alberta provincewide: 0.85 (0.82-0.89)
• Edmonton Zone: 0.78 (0.71-0.85)
• Calgary Zone: 0.82 (0.76-0.88)
• Rest of Alberta: 0.94 (0.88-1.01)

What Should I Do If I Think I Have COVID-19?

• If you have returned from travel outside of Canada or have been in close contact with a known case you MUST self-isolate for 14 days following your return/exposure and monitor yourself for symptoms.
• If you have symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat or runny nose, you MUST self-isolate for 10 days after the onset of symptoms and until your symptoms have resolved (whichever is longer).
• Complete the COVID-19 Self-Assessment to determine if you should receive testing for COVID-19
• If you are quarantined because you recently came back from outside the country, or you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19, you must remain on your own property. Under no circumstance should you leave your property during the 14 days of self-isolation.
• Most of Alberta's family physicians are continuing to provide services during COVID-19.
• Patients should continue to consult with their family physician for non-urgent health concerns, including care for chronic conditions and any new health concerns unrelated to COVID-19.
• Please call your physician's office before attending in person to determine whether in-person or virtual care is the best option. If you do not have a family doctor, please visit AlbertaFindADoctor.ca.
• If your symptoms worsen, have concerns about your health or questions about COVID-19, call 811.
• Call 911 if you are seriously ill and need immediate medical attention. Inform them that you may have COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 Self-Assessment
  • Learn More About Self-Isolation
  • Symptoms
  • COVID-19 vs. Influenza

If you are in mandatory self-isolation:

• Do not go outside for a walk through your neighbourhood or park. This includes children in mandatory self-isolation.
• You can get fresh air in your backyard, if you have one, but you must remain on private property not accessible by others.
• If you live in an apartment building or highrise, you must stay inside and cannot use the elevators or stairwells to go outside. If your balcony is private and at least two metres away from your closest neighbour's, you may go outside on the balcony.
• This directive is consistent with the new federal requirements under the Quarantine Act.

 

About COVID-19

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause respiratory illness in people, ranging from mild common colds to severe illnesses. Others cause illness in animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people, and more rarely, these can then spread from person to person through close contact. Novel coronaviruses are new strains of the virus that have not been previously identified in humans.

 

Spread

COVID-19 is believed to be spread mainly by coughing, sneezing or direct contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19 or with surfaces they have recently touched.

 

Risk

A higher risk does currently apply to people who develop a fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat or runny nose AND meet any of the criteria below.

In the 14 days before illness onset, they:

Travelled to anywhere outside of Canada;

OR

Had close contact* with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19;

OR

Had close contact* with a person with acute respiratory illness who has travelled anywhere outside of Canada within 14 days prior to illness onset;

OR

Had laboratory exposure to biological material (e.g. primary clinical specimens, virus culture isolates) known to contain COVID-19 virus.

Anyone meeting these criteria should avoid contact with others and call Health Link 811 for advice.

* A close contact is defined as a person who provided care for the individual, including healthcare workers, family members or other caregivers, or who had other similar close physical contact with the person without consistent and appropriate use of personal protective equipment OR who lived with or otherwise had close prolonged contact (within two metres) with the person while they were infectious OR had direct contact with infectious bodily fluids of the person (e.g. was coughed or sneezed on) while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment.

 

How to Care for a COVID-19 Patient at Home

​If you are caring for a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, follow this advice to protect yourself and others in the home, as well as those in your community.

• Learn more

 

Resources for Specific Health Conditions

​This section contains resources for Albertans and caregivers dealing with specific health conditions and disabilities/special needs

• Learn more

 

How to Prepare & Respond

Alberta public health officials are recommending Albertans prepare and respond to COVID-19 by creating a household plan of action:

• Talk with the people who need to be included in your plan. Have these conversations over the phone, by email or text. Follow physical distancing guidelines.
• Talk to your household members, relatives, friends and neighbours about what the needs of each person will be, if they need to enter self-isolation or are diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications. This includes practical steps like ensuring you have sufficient medication and determining what supplies are needed, and if they can be delivered.
• Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning, and how you can help each other to stay safe and healthy – or support one another if your household or theirs is required to self-isolate. Again, have these conversations over the phone, by email or text – following physical distancing guidelines.
• Regularly reach out to those in self-isolation. A lack of social contact can cause mental health challenges, and we need to support those most vulnerable.
• Create a list of local organizations that you and your household can contact in the event you need access to information, health care services, support, and resources.
• Create an emergency contact list.

Practice good personal health habits and plan for home-based actions:

• Practice everyday preventive actions, like those listed in the prevention section.
• Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy. Identify a separate bathroom for the sick person to use, if possible. Plan to clean these rooms, as needed, when someone is sick, following the Cleaning Guidelines available above.

Plan for potential changes at your workplace.

• Learn about your employer’s emergency operations plan.
• Ask about what sick-leave policies and telework options are available if needed.

Stockpiling of goods is not recommended at this time. While it’s always best practice to have three days worth of supplies on-hand, public health officials are not recommending Albertans purchase food or other materials in bulk.

Resources:

• Building an Emergency Kit

 

Physical Distancing

All Albertans are asked to practice physical distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Physical distancing involves taking steps to limit the number of people you come into close contact with. It can help you reduce your risk of getting sick, and help prevent spreading the virus to others.

This is not the same as self-isolation. You do not need to remain indoors, but you do need to avoid being in close contact with people.

To protect yourself and others:

• Keep at least 6 feet (the length of a bicycle) from others when going out for groceries, medical trips and other essential needs
• Limit the number of times you leave your home for errands
• Try to shop at less busy times
• Order online to have groceries or other items delivered if possible
• Go for a walk in your neighborhood or park while maintaining distance from others
• Avoid overcrowding in elevators or other enclosed spaces
• Follow Alberta’s recommendations on mass gatherings
• Wash or sanitize your hands after touching communal surfaces

(Translated videos)

 

Public Health Restrictions (Mass Gatherings & Schools)

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Alberta has implemented new public health restrictions.

• Following the new orders from the Chief Medical Officer of Health issued on April 29, AHS has updated our visitor guidance. To help ensure continued protection of residents in long-term care and supportive living, as well as improve their quality of life, our visitor guidelines now allow residents of these facilities who are not in isolation to enjoy outdoor visits with a designated essential visitor and one other person. See Information for People Visiting Patients for more information.
• Effective immediately, student attendance at schools is prohibited.
• Effective immediately, in-person classes at post-secondary institutions are cancelled until further notice. Campuses remain open.
• Government is working with post-secondary institutions to ensure students are not prevented from being eligible for admission to post-secondary studies for the upcoming school year.
• All licensed child care facilities, out-of-school care programs and preschool programs are closed indefinitely.
• Places of worship are no longer exempt from restrictions on mass gatherings.
• To limit the amount of time Albertans are spending in large crowds and crowded spaces, all Albertans are prohibited from attending public recreational facilities and private entertainment facilities, including gyms, swimming pools, arenas, science centres, museums, art galleries, community centres, children’s play centres, casinos, racing entertainment centres, and bingo halls.
• Until further notice, all Albertans are restricted from attending bars and nightclubs, where minors are prohibited by law.
• All dine-in services are prohibited. Take-out, delivery and drive-through services are still allowed.

Events

Events with more than 15 attendees are cancelled:

• This includes large sporting events, conferences and community events, as well as worship gatherings and family events – including weddings and funerals.
• Grocery stores, shopping centres, health-care facilities, airports, the legislature and other essential services are not included in this mandatory closure.
• Likewise, at this time not-for-profit community kitchens, soup kitchens and religious kitchens are exempt, but sanitization practices are expected to be in place and support will be in place for this practice.

Effective March 25, the province has instituted new enforcement measures for those not respecting public health restrictions.

Find more information on Alberta.ca

 

Contact with a Confirmed Case of COVID-19

If you were in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days, regardless of which country you were in, you are directed to self-isolate and limit your contact with others for 14 days. Call Health Link 811 for additional advice.

Back to top

Info for Travellers

Returning to Alberta:

• Effective March 25, the Government of Canada has implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine, under the Quarantine Act, for travellers returning to Canada.
• ALL travellers who returned to Alberta from outside Canada in the last 14 days are required to self-isolate immediately for 14 days after the date of return and monitor for symptoms.
• If you are quarantined because you recently came back from outside the country, or you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19, you must remain on your own property. Under no circumstance should you leave your property during the 14 days of self-isolation.

If you have symptoms:

• Anyone who has symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion MUST self-isolate for 14 days. Under no circumstance should you leave your property during the 14 days of self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen, have concerns about your health or questions about COVID-19, call 811. If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and advise them that you may have COVID-19.

Follow these self-isolation guidelines:

• Avoid close contact with other people, especially those with chronic conditions, a compromised immune system, or seniors.
• Do not attend work, school, social events or any other public gatherings.
• Watch for symptoms like fever, cough or shortness of breath in yourself or family members.
• If, at any time in your 14 day period of self-isolation, you develop symptoms of illness, you are required to stay home for 10 days from date of symptom onset, or until symptoms have cleared, whichever is longer. This may extend your period of self-isolation to longer than 14 days.
• If your symptoms worsen, have concerns about your health or questions about COVID, call Health Link 811. Call from home before going to a health care facility, unless severely ill.
• If severely ill and in need of immediate medical attention call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19.

If you are unsure if you should be self-isolating, or if you have questions about how to do it, follow these guidelines or call Health Link 811.

Further information for travellers returning to work and school can be found on the Alberta COVID-19 website.

Departing Travellers

Albertans are NOT recommended to travel outside of the country at this time:

• Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Health Advisories
• World Health Organization's Bulletins for Updated Travel Advice

 

Prevention

To help protect you and your family against all respiratory illnesses, including flu and COVID-19, you should:

• Wash your hands often and well
• Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay at home as much as possible, and practice physical distancing when you do leave home: keep at least 6 feet from others when going out for groceries, medical trips and other essential needs
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
• Contact your primary health provider or Health Link 811 if you have questions or concerns about your health
• When sick, cover your cough and sneezes and then wash your hands

Wearing Masks

When sick, wearing a mask helps prevent us from passing illnesses on to other people. This is why we ask people who have a cough or respiratory symptoms to wear a mask and wash their hands when visiting an emergency department or clinic.

Wearing a non-medical mask, such as a homemade cloth mask, has not been proven to protect the person wearing it. However, wearing a non-medical mask may be helpful in protecting others around you. This is because face coverings are another way to cover your mouth and nose to prevent respiratory droplets from contaminating other people or surfaces. Additionally, wearing a mask may stop you from touching your nose and mouth.

If you choose to wear a non-medical mask or face covering:

• Ensure your mask is well-fitted and does not gape at the sides.
• Be aware that masks can become contaminated on the outside. Avoid moving or adjusting the mask. Assume the mask has been contaminated and take proper precautions.
• Critically, if you wear a mask, you must wash your hands before putting it on, as well as before and after taking it off.
• Cloth masks should be worn only a short time, as there is some evidence that they can trap virus particles after they become damp, which may put the wearer at greater risk.
• For those choosing to wear non-medical masks, it may be prudent to carry a bag with several clean masks in it, as well as a plastic bag that can be used to safely store used masks until they can be washed at home.
• It is critical that used masks be carefully handled to avoid spreading infection to others.
• See appropriate infection prevention and control precautions for health-care settings

 

Symptoms

Symptoms for COVID-19 are similar to those for influenza or other respiratory illnesses.

Anyone who has the following symptoms are legally required to self-isolate and should be tested for COVID-19. You may leave your home to be tested, but should follow these guidelines on how to do it safety.

• Fever
• A new cough or a chronic cough that is worsening
• New or worsening shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Runny nose

If you are not tested for COVID-19, you MUST self-isolate for 10 days following the start of these symptoms and until you are feeling better (whichever is longer). If you are tested, further instructions are available at ahs.ca/results based on your test results.

If you have any of the following additional symptoms, you may also be tested for COVID-19. While there is not a legal requirement to self-isolate, you should stay home and minimize contact with others until you are feeling better.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

• Fever
• Cough (new cough or worsening chronic cough)
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (new or worsening)
• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Painful swallowing
• Headache
• Chills
• Muscle or joint aches
• Feeling unwell in general, or new fatigue or severe exhaustion
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained loss of appetite)
• Loss of sense of smell or taste
• Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye

Complete the COVID-19 Self-Assessment for more information.

If you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and advise them that you may have COVID-19. Do not visit a hospital, doctor’s office, lab or healthcare facility for non-urgent medical needs without consulting Health Link 811 first.

Most people (about 80%) recover from this disease without needing special treatment. However, it can cause serious illness. Those who are older, and those with other medical problems are more likely to develop serious illness, which can include:

• difficulty breathing
• pneumonia

There is a risk of death in severe cases.

While we are still learning about how COVID-19 affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.

 

COVID-19 vs. Influenza

In some ways, COVID-19 is similar to influenza (also known as the flu):

• Both COVID-19 and the flu cause respiratory disease in people who get sick.
• Both are spread the same way, via small droplets from the nose and mouth.
• Neither one is spread through the air over long distances and times, unlike a disease like the measles.

However, there are some key differences between COVID-19 and the flu:

• COVID-19 does not appear to transmit as efficiently as influenza. Only those with symptoms seem to be mainly spreading the disease. This means that when people with symptoms are isolated, controlling spread is possible.
• We currently have no specific vaccine or treatment for COVID-19.
• COVID-19 causes severe disease in a higher percentage of cases than seasonal influenza. Estimates of mortality in COVID-19 cases depend on many things, but on average they range from about 1-2 deaths per 100 people infected. By comparison, seasonal influenza is deadly in about 1 in every 1000 who are infected.
• Because COVID-19 can cause such a serious illness, it is critical to keep it from spreading by having people with a cough or fever stay home and away from others.

Find more information on symptoms of COVID-19.

 

Test Results & Next Steps

If you have had a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab to test for COVID-19, while you are awaiting your results you are required to remain in self-isolation, at home. While at home, please also continue to follow good respiratory etiquette, and good hand hygiene practices.

Find more information on Advice for People Tested for COVID-19.

 

Changes in Health Services

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, AHS is adjusting our response measures and supports. We must ensure we have the capacity to handle the anticipated surge in patients related to COVID-19.

• Alberta Health Services will resume some scheduled, day surgeries beginning in May.

These difficult decisions have been made to ensure AHS has the staff, equipment (including personal protective equipment) and beds available for the expected increased demand on our healthcare system caused by COVID-19.

Frontline teams impacted by these changes will be redeployed to other areas of the healthcare system to meet demand and ease pressure points.

We recognize that these are difficult, stressful times and that any change in service may be concerning. Our number one priority is protecting the health of Albertans, and in this extraordinary situation, we must take significant steps to do so.

Relaunch of Scheduled & Elective Surgeries

• AHS will resume some scheduled, day surgeries in all five zones beginning in May.
• We are confident this can be done safely, and that we can provide this important care to Albertans while minimizing any risk of COVID-19 transmission.
• We will ensure we balance the need to sustain capacity for the anticipated surge in COVID-19 patients, with the need to care for patients requiring surgery. To ensure we maintain adequate supplies over and above the requirements for COVID-19, we will conduct weekly assessments and adapt as required.
• Surgeries and procedures will be prioritized using established prioritization processes with patients at greatest need and those waiting the longest receiving care first.
• A centralized booking office will coordinate surgery and procedure planning in each zone and AHS will begin contacting Albertans currently on wait-lists in the coming days to reschedule their procedures. Centralized access and triage will be developed and implemented in the coming months as scheduled surgeries increase.
• Ensuring the safety of patients is of utmost importance. Depending on COVID-19 cases, there may be time-limited variations in service delivery and access across the province.
• Urgent and emergency surgery, as well as oncology and scheduled caesarean procedures, will continue.
• We are extremely grateful for the patience of those Albertans who had their scheduled surgeries delayed following our decision to postpone non-urgent procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• We understand that many of you will be anxious to hear from AHS on your surgery or procedure. We ask for your patience. Please do not call 811 or the clinic for information. You will be contacted by AHS.

Reduction in Ambulatory Clinic Services

• Alberta Health Services is reducing ambulatory clinic services.
• We will work with referring physicians wherever possible to seek alternative care for patients outside of our ambulatory clinics.
• All patients requiring urgent ambulatory care will continue to receive it.
• By reducing our ambulatory services at this time, we are freeing up resources and care spaces that may be needed during this unforeseen time.

Diagnostic Imaging Postponements

• Alberta Health Services is postponing some diagnostic imaging procedures.
• Imaging that is deemed to be non-urgent by the ordering physician will be postponed.
• Anyone needing an urgent or emergent outpatient CT and MRI scan will still receive one.
• This will help us limit opportunities for the virus to spread.
• AHS will evaluate all semi-urgent and routine CT and MRI requests, and those requiring immediate imaging will be re-scheduled at an outpatient, non-hospital site.
• Any imaging not related to immediate patient treatment will be rescheduled.
• This decision will have an impact on those waiting for a CT and/or MRI scan, and will affect people who have already spent significant time on a wait-list.
• AHS will work closely with patients whose exams are being rescheduled, and urge them to connect with their physicians if their conditions change.

Request to Cease Non-Essential Laboratory Testing

• We are working hard to deploy our laboratory resources in the safest and most efficient way possible as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• We are asking physicians and community providers to help us in relieving the strain on the laboratory system.
• Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) and DynaLIFE strongly recommend immediate cessation of non-essential and routine laboratory testing.
• Patients who require bloodwork that is critical to their immediate care will continue to receive testing.
• Mobile Collection Services in the province will prioritize work and focus on patients with the highest medical needs.
• This request is consistent with advice from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) that was communicated on March 23:

“All diagnostic facilities and non-hospital surgical facilities are being advised not to engage in any procedures or patient visits that are not considered to be urgent in nature. All elective and non-urgent visits and procedures should be postponed.”

• Pausing non-essential testing will help:
  • Alleviate the strain on the laboratory system at a time when we are directing many of our lab resources towards testing for COVID-19.
  • Follow the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer with regards to physical distancing by ensuring staff do not have to closely interact with patients unless necessary.
  • Free up capacity to still provide critical bloodwork for the patients that need it most.
• Patients can also help by postponing attending lab Patient Service Centres or other collection sites with requisitions for routine and non-urgent lab work.
• APL and DynaLIFE are thankful for the cooperation and support of our patients, community physicians and other frontline care providers in responding to this request.

 

Actions Being Taken

• On March 17 the government declared a state of public health emergency, empowering authorities under the Public Health Act to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Alberta’s Provincial Operations Centre has been elevated from a level 3 to a level 4, the highest level.
• AHS has an Emergency Coordination Centre established, and continues to work efficiently and collaboratively with Alberta Health and care providers across Alberta.
• We also continue to follow guidance from Health Canada and the World Health Organization.
• A comprehensive range of prevention and control measures are in place in Alberta, and we will continue to maintain these measures to reduce risk of spread of illness in Alberta.
• Effective March 25, the province has instituted new enforcement measures for those not respecting public health restrictions. Find more information on Alberta.ca

Enforcement

If you violate a public health order, you may be subject to a $1,000 fine. Additionally, you can be prosecuted for up to $100,000 for a first offense.

If you are concerned someone is not following public health orders, you can:

• remind them that not following orders is against the law and puts people at risk
• request service from AHS public health inspectors online or call 1-833-415-9179