Alberta Health officials said Friday afternoon that a second presumptive case of the novel coronavirus had been identified — this one in Edmonton.
Alberta’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said at a news conference Friday that the second case is connected to a man in his 40s from Edmonton who just returned from a trip to the U.S.
“Because this lab result just came back, we do not yet have details on this person’s activities since they returned from their trip,” Hinshaw said. “I’m sharing this information in order to be transparent and to meet our goal of sharing information with the public when we have it.”
Health officials are following up with all his close contacts, as they did with the first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Alberta.
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The man returned from a business trip on Feb. 28, where he visited Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
WATCH BELOW: Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said the province has recorded a second presumptive case of the novel coronavirus — a man in his 40s from the Edmonton zone who recently returned from a trip to Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
3:00 Alberta’s 2nd case of presumptive COVID-19 is in Edmonton zone
Alberta’s 2nd case of presumptive COVID-19 is in Edmonton zone
Health officials will be speaking with him Friday night and will update the public when they have more details.
This man travelled with one other person who Hinshaw said is showing symptoms and will be tested.
“I know many Albertan have concerns,” Hinshaw said. “We continue to treat this very seriously. I want to stress that the risk of getting sick from COVID-19 remains low at this time in Alberta. However, with these recent developments, we are anticipating this risk may increase in the weeks to come.”
1:46 Precautions being taken as presumptive cases of COVID-19 arrive in Alberta
Precautions being taken as presumptive cases of COVID-19 arrive in Alberta
Alberta Health said Thursday afternoon that the province had its first presumptive case of COVID-19.
Health officials said that Albertan presumed to now have the virus is a woman in her 50s whom they believe contracted COVID-19 while aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship out of California.
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“We do continue to ask anyone who has returned from a Grand Princess cruise to isolate themselves until 14 days have passed since that trip. We recommended this even if they are feeling well.”
She returned home to the Calgary Zone on Feb. 21 and has been self-isolating since Feb. 28. She is expected to make a full recovery, Hinshaw said.
“It is important to remember that COVID-19 is transmitted through person-to-person spread by larger droplets like from a cough or a sneeze, or by touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth,” Hinshaw said. “There is no current evidence to suggest that Albertans who may have passed her on the street might be at risk.”
1:25 What to do in Alberta if you think you have COVID-19 symptoms
What to do in Alberta if you think you have COVID-19 symptoms
Hinshaw said Friday that health officials have reached out to family, other close contacts, staff and coworkers at the Alberta Treasury Branch, where she worked.
Two ATB branches where there may have been exposure are temporarily closing and staff at those branches are also self-isolating.
3:35 ‘The bigger question is how we are going about handling it’: Infectious disease specialist on COVID-19 in Alberta
‘The bigger question is how we are going about handling it’: Infectious disease specialist on COVID-19 in Alberta
ATB told Global News the two branches are Sage Hill and Creekside.
“We are doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of our team members and customers,” ATB Financial president Curtis Stange said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to ATB.
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“To that end, we have been working closely with Alberta Health Services to ensure we are as proactive and protective as possible, including closing two of our Calgary locations. I want to thank AHS for their leadership on this front, and I want to thank our team members for their commitment to supporting each other and our customers.”
1:36 What you need to know about air travel amid COVID-19 outbreak
What you need to know about air travel amid COVID-19 outbreak
Hinshaw said the woman isn’t believed to have attended any social gatherings prior to self-isolating.
She was travelling with two other people who Hinshaw said are not showing symptoms.
AHS is contacting individuals who are considered to be exposed to this case, they will be isolating and be monitored. Anyone who develops symptoms is being tested for COVID-19.
2:51 Alberta expands testing protocols as 2nd presumptive case found
Alberta expands testing protocols as 2nd presumptive case found
The number of COVID-19 tests being done in Alberta is over 200 a day, Hinshaw said.
She said this is a “rapidly-evolving situation,” additional steps are being taken, and “swift action to protect public.”
Alberta will be expanding its testing protocols to include anyone who’s travelled outside Canada.
Starting Saturday, community influenza clinics will start testing samples for COVID-19.
WATCH BELOW: One day after Alberta officials said the province had its first presumptive case of coronavirus, the premier and an infectious disease specialist are reassuring people that Alberta health officials are prepared. Julia Wong has more.
2:38 Premier, infectious disease physician speak about COVID-19
Premier, infectious disease physician speak about COVID-19
1:39 ATB closes 2 Calgary branches after employee believed to have COVID-19
ATB closes 2 Calgary branches after employee believed to have COVID-19
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says it could be months before it reveals how many people are on the wait-list for a family doctor.
The head of the province’s health authority told reporters Wednesday that the government won’t release updated data until the 160,000 people who were on the wait-list in June are contacted to verify whether they still need primary care.
Karen Oldfield said Nova Scotia Health is working on validating the primary care wait-list data before posting new numbers, and that work may take a matter of months. The most recent public wait-list figures are from June 1, when 160,234 people, or about 16 per cent of the population, were on it.
“It’s going to take time to make 160,000 calls,” Oldfield said. “We are not talking weeks, we are talking months.”
The interim CEO and president of Nova Scotia Health said people on the list are being asked where they live, whether they still need a family doctor, and to give an update on their health.
A spokesperson with the province’s Health Department says the government and its health authority are “working hard” to turn the wait-list registry into a useful tool, adding that the data will be shared once it is validated.
Nova Scotia’s NDP are calling on Premier Tim Houston to immediately release statistics on how many people are looking for a family doctor. On Tuesday, the NDP introduced a bill that would require the health minister to make the number public every month.
“It is unacceptable for the list to be more than three months out of date,” NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday.
Chender said releasing this data regularly is vital so Nova Scotians can track the government’s progress on its main 2021 campaign promise: fixing health care.
The number of people in need of a family doctor has more than doubled between the 2021 summer election campaign and June 2024. Since September 2021 about 300 doctors have been added to the provincial health system, the Health Department said.
“We’ll know if Tim Houston is keeping his 2021 election promise to fix health care when Nova Scotians are attached to primary care,” Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador‘s chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says that so far this year, the province has recorded 230 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis.
Late last month, Quebec reported more than 11,000 cases during the same time period, while Ontario counted 470 cases, well above the five-year average of 98. In Quebec, the majority of patients are between the ages of 10 and 14.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick has declared a whooping cough outbreak across the province. A total of 141 cases were reported by last month, exceeding the five-year average of 34.
The disease can lead to severe complications among vulnerable populations including infants, who are at the highest risk of suffering from complications like pneumonia and seizures. Symptoms may start with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, then progress to severe coughing accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound during inhalation.
“The public, especially pregnant people and those in close contact with infants, are encouraged to be aware of symptoms related to pertussis and to ensure vaccinations are up to date,” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Department said in a statement.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of the disease. As a result, the province has expanded immunization efforts this school year. While booster doses are already offered in Grade 9, the vaccine is now being offered to Grade 8 students as well.
Public health officials say whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to five or six years.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s acting chief medical officer of health expects the current case count to get worse before tapering off.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere. The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
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