Alberta’s COVID-19 hospitalization rates remain low with 80 people currently in hospital, 17 of whom are in intensive care. In total, 4,020 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19. One more Albertan has died.
Latest updates
81 new cases have been reported, bringing the number of active cases to 1,883.
Cases have been identified in all zones across the province:
1,213 active cases and 2,761 recovered cases in the Calgary zone
554 active cases and 567 recovered cases in the South zone
59 active cases and 425 recovered cases in the Edmonton zone
34 active cases and 171 recovered cases in the North zone
17 active cases and 78 recovered cases in the Central zone
Six active cases and 18 recovered cases in zones yet to be confirmed
Additional information, including the total number of cases, is reported online.
692 cases are suspected of being community acquired.
The total deaths are 115: 81 in the Calgary zone; 15 in the North zone; 12 in the Edmonton zone; six in the South zone; and one in the Central zone.
To date, 678 cases have been confirmed at continuing care facilities, and 84 residents at these facilities have died.
There are 95 active cases among workers from the Cargill meat processing plant in High River, and 849 have recovered.
There are 96 active cases among workers from JBS Foods Canada in Brooks, and 497 have recovered.
21 active cases have been confirmed at Harmony Beef, and 16 individuals have recovered.
Updated information on outbreak locations in Alberta is available online.
There have been 166,327 people tested for COVID-19 and a total of 177,559 tests performed by the lab. In the last 24 hours, 3,232 tests have been completed.
Non-essential travel
Travel to summer homes, cabins and cottages within Alberta is now permitted. Those choosing to travel within the province are reminded to consider local community guidelines and the health and safety of small communities.
Albertans should not travel to summer homes outside the province.
If planning a trip of this kind, prepare for minimal stops by packing food and stopping only if necessary.
Outdoor gun ranges allowed to open with restrictions
Starting May 8, outdoor gun ranges in Alberta will be allowed to open with restrictions to ensure adequate physical distancing and increased sanitization and limited contact with high-touch objects and surfaces.
Operators can go online to find guidance documents for reopening businesses.
Water testing delayed
Water testing at Alberta beaches will be delayed this summer, as staff and lab capacity are focused on COVID-19 response.
Albertans using lakes and beaches should do so at their own risk and take precautions if they choose to enter the water, including checking for signs of blue-green algae and following any posted advice.
Price-gouging charges laid
The Consumer Investigations Unit is charging a Calgary-based business, CCA Logistics Ltd., with violating the Consumer Protection Act related to price-gouging for products related to COVID-19.
The investigation and charges resulted from an anonymous tip to the Government of Alberta’s Report a Rip-Off telephone line: 1-877-427-4088.
More information can be found in the news release.
Albertans downloading tracer app
The ABTraceTogether app will enhance current manual contact tracing and capacity, and facilitate early detection to help reduce the spread of the virus and better protect Albertans. It means Albertans will be contacted more quickly if they are at risk.
Use of the app is voluntary; users must opt in.
The app does not track the user’s physical location and does not use GPS. Protecting privacy is paramount; all contact data is only on the user’s phone and is deleted after 21 days.
Secure contact tracing is a cornerstone of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy. More information on the app, including links to download it, can be found online.
Since its launch, the app has attracted 146,221 registered users.
Mental health supports
Mental Health Week is May 4 to 10, an opportunity to promote positive mental health for everyone. The Canadian Mental Health Association has a variety of resources available at mentalhealthweek.ca.
Confidential supports are available to help with mental health concerns. The Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642 and the Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322 are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Kids Help Phone is available 24-7 and offers professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people by texting CONNECT to 686868.
Online resources provide advice on handling stressful situations and ways to talk with children.
Family violence prevention
A 24-hour Family Violence Information Line is available at 310-1818 to get anonymous help in more than 170 languages.
Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence is available at 1-866-403-8000, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The requirement for in-person Emergency Protection Order (EPO) applications for those fleeing family violence has been temporarily suspended; provincial courts can now hear applications for EPOs via telecommunication.
Information sheets and other resources on family violence prevention are available at alberta.ca/COVID19.
Quick facts
The most important measure Albertans can take to prevent respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, is to practise good hygiene.
This includes cleaning your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve, and disposing of tissues appropriately.
Any individual exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat or shortness of breath, is eligible for testing. People can access testing by completing the COVID-19 self-assessment online. A separate self-assessment tool is available for health-care and shelter workers, enforcement and first responders. After completing the form, there is no need to call 811.
All Albertans need to work together to overcome COVID-19. Albertans are asked to share acts of kindness they have experienced in their community during this difficult time by using the hashtag #AlbertaCares.
Provincial Press Release May 8, 2020 @ 4:37 PM