Premier Jason Kenney said Friday Alberta would expand COVID-19 testing to all residents and staff at continuing care sites that have outbreaks, whether they are exhibiting symptoms of the disease or not.
“This will help to contain the spread among residents and protect the… courageous workers.”
He said this expanded testing would start “in the coming days.”
Kenney confirmed 239 new cases in Alberta on Friday, bringing the total to 2,397.
“We’ve seen a substantial increase in confirmed cases because we have once again been stepping up testing,” the premier said.
In the last 24 hours, 3,381 tests for COVID-19 were completed. He said the goal is still to eventually run 20,000 tests a day.
No new deaths connected to the disease had been reported Friday, keeping the provincial fatality rate at 50.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw said 32 of Alberta’s 50 deaths were in long-term care sites.
“I know that people who have loved ones in long-term care and continuing care facilities are concerned about the risk of infection at these sites. I am too.
“It is not acceptable that elderly Albertans are being put at risk in a place where their health is supposed to be protected.”
Hinshaw echoed that testing was being expanded to include all units in continuing care facilities that have confirmed outbreaks. Everyone, regardless of whether they’re exhibiting symptoms, would be tested.
“This expanded testing does not replace or change any of our outbreak measures,” she stressed.
This would not be daily testing; but “a sweep” of tests, Hinshaw added. It is most useful at the beginning of an outbreak and repeat testing would not typically be done, she said.
As of Friday, there were 34 long-term care sites with at least one confirmed case of the novel coronavirus.
Kenney said 1,124 people have recovered.
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He said Alberta has a consistently low rate of hospitalizations and ICU admissions.
On Friday, 60 people were in hospital; 13 of which had been admitted to intensive care units.
“Hospitalizations are up by about 10,” Kenney said. “That is something to keep reminding us that we’re far from out of the woods yet.
“We continue to see far fewer hospitalizations than even the most optimistic modelling by AHS released last week.”
Hinshaw said there were 400 cases believed to be the result of community transmission from an unknown source.
“This number has increased and is a concern.”
She said Alberta Health teams would be looking into the data, try to find the transmission source and track the spread, and would share the results in next week’s updates.
Reporting outbreaks
Hinshaw acknowledged that some Albertans were disappointed they didn’t hear about the seven confirmed cases at Calgary’s Foothills Hospital maternity ward before Thursday.
In response, Hinshaw said Alberta Health would include all confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks on its website “to support my commitment to be as transparent with Albertans as possible.”
However, she said Alberta Health wants to make sure any outbreak site is informed before the details are posted online.
Surge in cases in High River
Hinshaw said Friday there was a surge confirmed cases identified in households linked to the meat-packing plant in High River.
There were 358 cases of novel coronavirus linked to the outbreak at the facility, she said, involving “multiple connected households.”
“Some of these households are in surrounding communities, such as Calgary, and current information suggests that the cases in this outbreak are primarily linked to household transmission,” Hinshaw said.
AHS has put together a dedicated outbreak response team to track these cases and contain the spread.
The Opposition NDP is calling on the government to temporarily close the Cargill meat plant.
AHS taking over management of Manoir Du Lac
Alberta Health Services is taking over day-to-day operations of the Manoir Du Lac retirement home in McLennan, one of the continuing care centres with a confirmed outbreak.
To date, 26 residents at the local continuing care facility have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and there have been five COVID-related resident deaths. There are also 11 staff who have tested positive.
Hinshaw explained “public health determined that protocols for keeping residents safe and well cared for were not being followed. The health and safety of residents in our seniors care facilities is of utmost importance.
“These measures are being taken to ensure that residents get the care they need.”
Some of the issues included were: not enough staff, staff working extremely long shifts, inadequate screening of staff and visitors, care standards for residents not being met and rules around personal protective equipment not being followed.
In a news release, AHS said:
“Effective immediately, residents at Manoir du Lac will undergo daily screenings, including a temperature check and symptom monitoring. Residents displaying new respiratory symptoms will be isolated in their room and staff caring for them will be wearing all recommended personal protective equipment. These measures are standard practice at all AHS continuing care facilities in Alberta.”
Kearl Lake outbreak
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health also updated the situation linked to the Kearl Lake oilsands project north of Fort McMurray.
She said as of Friday, there were 12 COVID-19 cases in Alberta linked to the site and several other cases in other provinces linked to the site.
Alberta Health was working with the multiple companies involved to get lists and track potential exposures and conduct contact tracing.
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