Alberta Health officials said Friday afternoon that a second presumptive case of the novel coronavirus had been identified — this one in Edmonton.
Alberta’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said at a news conference Friday that the second case is connected to a man in his 40s from Edmonton who just returned from a trip to the U.S.
“Because this lab result just came back, we do not yet have details on this person’s activities since they returned from their trip,” Hinshaw said. “I’m sharing this information in order to be transparent and to meet our goal of sharing information with the public when we have it.”
Health officials are following up with all his close contacts, as they did with the first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Alberta.
The man returned from a business trip on Feb. 28, where he visited Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
WATCH BELOW: Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said the province has recorded a second presumptive case of the novel coronavirus — a man in his 40s from the Edmonton zone who recently returned from a trip to Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
Health officials will be speaking with him Friday night and will update the public when they have more details.
This man travelled with one other person who Hinshaw said is showing symptoms and will be tested.
“I know many Albertan have concerns,” Hinshaw said. “We continue to treat this very seriously. I want to stress that the risk of getting sick from COVID-19 remains low at this time in Alberta. However, with these recent developments, we are anticipating this risk may increase in the weeks to come.”
Alberta’s 1st presumptive case (Calgary)
Alberta Health said Thursday afternoon that the province had its first presumptive case of COVID-19.
Health officials said that Albertan presumed to now have the virus is a woman in her 50s whom they believe contracted COVID-19 while aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship out of California.
“We do continue to ask anyone who has returned from a Grand Princess cruise to isolate themselves until 14 days have passed since that trip. We recommended this even if they are feeling well.”
She returned home to the Calgary Zone on Feb. 21 and has been self-isolating since Feb. 28. She is expected to make a full recovery, Hinshaw said.
“It is important to remember that COVID-19 is transmitted through person-to-person spread by larger droplets like from a cough or a sneeze, or by touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth,” Hinshaw said. “There is no current evidence to suggest that Albertans who may have passed her on the street might be at risk.”
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Hinshaw said Friday that health officials have reached out to family, other close contacts, staff and coworkers at the Alberta Treasury Branch, where she worked.
Two ATB branches where there may have been exposure are temporarily closing and staff at those branches are also self-isolating.
ATB told Global News the two branches are Sage Hill and Creekside.
“We are doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of our team members and customers,” ATB Financial president Curtis Stange said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to ATB.
“To that end, we have been working closely with Alberta Health Services to ensure we are as proactive and protective as possible, including closing two of our Calgary locations. I want to thank AHS for their leadership on this front, and I want to thank our team members for their commitment to supporting each other and our customers.”
Hinshaw said the woman isn’t believed to have attended any social gatherings prior to self-isolating.
She was travelling with two other people who Hinshaw said are not showing symptoms.
AHS is contacting individuals who are considered to be exposed to this case, they will be isolating and be monitored. Anyone who develops symptoms is being tested for COVID-19.
The number of COVID-19 tests being done in Alberta is over 200 a day, Hinshaw said.
She said this is a “rapidly-evolving situation,” additional steps are being taken, and “swift action to protect public.”
Alberta will be expanding its testing protocols to include anyone who’s travelled outside Canada.
Starting Saturday, community influenza clinics will start testing samples for COVID-19.
WATCH BELOW: One day after Alberta officials said the province had its first presumptive case of coronavirus, the premier and an infectious disease specialist are reassuring people that Alberta health officials are prepared. Julia Wong has more.
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