New COVID-19 outbreaks at 3 Edmonton continuing care facilities

Outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported at three continuing care facilities in Edmonton as case numbers continue to climb in the capital city.

Alberta Health said there are two cases of COVID-19 at Capital Care Grandview, three cases at Miller Crossing Care Centre and five cases at Good Samaritan Westpark Group Home.

The two cases at Capital Care Grandview both involve staff. At this point, it isn’t clear how many cases involve staff or patients at the two other sites.

These new outbreaks are the first new ones reported in Edmonton in a few months.

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Previously, the only other continuing care facility with an outbreak in the city was Kensington Village in northeast Edmonton.

At this point, it isn’t clear how many cases are in patients and how many are in staff.

“Anytime we have an outbreak in continuing care, it is of course concerning,” Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said on Wednesday.

“People who live in continuing care are at highest risk for severe outcomes from the disease, and they’re also at higher risk because they’re living in a congregate setting.”

Hinshaw said the outbreaks highlight the importance of Albertans not being lulled into a false sense of security when they see low case numbers for their community and then think they can move away from public health measures.

She reiterated the importance of staying home when sick and getting tested.

As of Tuesday’s update from Alberta Health, 732 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, with 190 of those people still sick.