Four more people have died at the McKenzie Towne Long Term Care facility in Calgary making 17 residents there who have now succumbed to COVID-19.
The four deaths at the facility are among seven in the province in the past 24 hours, the largest single-day death toll in Alberta bringing the province's death toll from the virus to 39.
Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw reported today (April 10) that there were 49 new cases of the virus reported in Alberta, bringing the total to 1,500. Of those, 713 patients have recovered.
There are a total of 97 cases in the North zone. The 2 cases in Grande Prairie are now classified as recovered, while 3 active cases remain in the County of Grande Prairie. A current geospatial cases map is available HERE.
201 of the 1,500 cases are believed to have transmitted within the community.
Hinshaw says she realizes that people are worried about the fate of people being looked after at long term care facilities and says she is as well. "We are exploring every option to prevent illness and deaths and to keep people at continuing care facilities safe and healthy. This includes examining other jurisdictions to see where Alberta can do more."
In line with that examination, Hinshaw announced more regulations for long term care facilities today. All workers in the sites will be required to wear a mask at all times when providing direct patient care or working in patient care areas within two metres of others.
Hinshaw also said in addition to the new masking requirements, workers at facilities will be required to only work at one site. "This will help the spread of illness between facilities," Hinshaw explains. The requirements are already in effect at facilities where there are COVID-19 outbreaks but will now be required at all long term care and supportive living facilities in Alberta. The new requirements will come into effect late next week to allow people to transition to them.
Yesterday Hinshaw said testing to meet the needs of Albertans would be expanded. The numbers today show 2,123 tests have been completed in the past 24 hours but Hinshaw said she has heard that 6,000 people had been referred for testing that will be done in the next day.