Article content continued
Starting Tuesday, individuals who live in those areas can stay for free at one of 16 self-isolation hotels — nine in Edmonton, six in Calgary, and one in Peace River — for 14 days.
Once they have completed self-isolation, they will be eligible for a one-time emergency payment of $625, the same amount made available to Albertans who have been affected by floods and fires.
“Vulnerable people affected by this public health emergency, who do the right thing by self-isolating need similar support to be safe,” Kenney said.
“So the message is clear, if you’ve been asked by Alberta Health to self-isolate due to COVID-19 … but you cannot safely self-isolate at home, we are here with real help, free accommodation, food, transportation, and financial support is available for you.”
In the spring, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw and her team identified household transmission to be a primary source of cases linked to the Cargill meatpacking plant outbreak. As a result, Kenney said, the government has since offered access to self-isolation hotels, paid for by taxpayers, to some Albertans who tested positive and could not self-isolate as a result of living in high-density households. He said only a few dozen have accepted the offer.
“We believe that most people, in high-density housing, just are not aware of this very helpful, public health support. … And so I’ve directed that we massively expand the self-isolation support,” Kenney said.
