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She said people should show support and compassion for those who are dealing with outbreaks or isolated cases.
There are now 98 cases linked to the northeast church.
Hinshaw said those who attended the building between Aug. 9 and 23 should go for testing, and children who were at the church should temporarily stay home from school. Church members who were not present during that time period are under no additional restrictions.
There are 74 cases linked to Harmony, 27 to Lilydale and seven at the Cargill site.
Staying home when sick critical to Alberta success
Hinshaw said it may sound “oversimplistic,” but keeping sick children home from school is critical to limiting exposure in classrooms and keeping schools open, while supporting working parents.
“I know this will be challenging. Having a sick child at home is more complicated than it was before the pandemic,” said Hinshaw, referencing the need for families or single-parents to balance their jobs and child care.
“For some, staying home may create difficult financial, personal and other stresses. I also know we are all longing to get back to how things used to be but COVID-19 is not going anywhere. We all have no choice but to work together and support each other in the days ahead.”
Hinshaw said employees and employers should make decisions together about returning to the office, as some parents might do now that school is back in session. However, her message remained clear that anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should stay home from all activities.
“We all need to reject the mindset that working while sick is a sign of toughness,” said Hinshaw. “Staying home when sick is a good thing. It shows we care about the health of our family and all of those around us.”
— With files from the Canadian Press
Twitter: @alanna_smithh
