Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said Monday he will continue to perform his duties but from home as he self-isolates because of “mild symptoms” as the COVID-19 pandemic takes further hold in Alberta.
Given his symptoms, Iveson tweeted that staying home is the “responsible thing for me to do.”
“This is about doing my part to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he tweeted.
“The directives to stay home, if you can, are about saving lives and preventing our health-care system from being overwhelmed. People who are at ‘low risk’ of becoming sick are still at high risk of spreading the virus.”
Iveson said he plans to continue to provide regular updates to the media and to carry on his work with city council and community leaders as he self-isolates.
“Our goal is to get to zero new cases as quickly as possible so that we can all get back to our regular routines as quickly as possible,” the mayor tweeted. “This requires Edmontonians staying home as much as possible.”
LISTEN: Mayor Don Iveson joins 630 CHED Afternoons with J’lyn Nye
Iveson also noted that if citizens do not respond to government calls for them to actively incorporate the advice of health officials into their everyday lives, he believes governments will “need to consider more stringent measures” than those that already announced.
“If you must go to the pharmacy or grocery store, or if you want to go outside for some exercise, do so responsibly,” he tweeted. “Do not linger.
“Use our beautiful parks, but use them for solo recreation. Keep a minimum of six feet between yourself and others.”
At a news conference on Friday, Iveson and interim city manager Adam Laughlin announced the City of Edmonton was declaring a local state of emergency over the COVID-19 crisis.
READ MORE: Edmonton declares local state of emergency over COVID-19, suspends some fees for citizens
Watch below: Some recent Global News videos involving Don Iveson.
At a news conference on Monday afternoon, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health announced there are now 301 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province. One of those cases saw a patient die.
READ MORE: Alberta sees 42 new cases of COVID-19, bringing total to 301 on Monday
Watch below: Dr. Deena Hinshaw provides an update on Alberta’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Edmonton on Monday.
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Alberta’s top doctor clarifies new testing and self-isolation guidelines -
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Coronavirus outbreak: AHS takes steps to minimize transmission of COVID-19 at hospitals -
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Coronavirus outbreak: Dr. Hinshaw cautions Albertans from planning trips to provincial parks -
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Coronavirus outbreak: Alberta launches text-based program to provide hope amid COVID-19 pandemic
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials say the risk is low for Canadians but warn this could change quickly. They caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are asked to self-isolate for 14 days in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. And if you get sick, stay at home.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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