COVID-19 coronavirus info for Albertans

In some ways, COVID-19 is similar to influenza (also known as the flu). They both:

• cause respiratory disease in people who get sick.
• spread by small droplets from the nose and mouth.
• are not spread through the air over long distances and times, unlike the measles.

However, there are some key differences between COVID-19 and the flu:

• COVID-19 does not appear to transmit as efficiently as influenza:
  • only those with symptoms seem to be spread the disease
  • controlling spread is possible when people with symptoms are isolated
• There is no specific vaccine or treatment for COVID-19.
• COVID-19 causes severe disease and mortality in more cases than the flu. On average there is about 1-2 deaths per 100 people infected with COVID-19, compared to 1 death in every 1000 people with the flu.
• Because COVID-19 can cause such a serious illness, it is critical to keep it from spreading by having people with a cough or fever stay home and away from others.

Find more information on symptoms of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is transmitted through person-to-person spread by:

• larger droplets, like from a cough or sneeze
• touching contaminated objects or surfaces, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth

COVID-19 is not airborne and cannot spread through the air over long distances or times, like the measles.

Studies suggest that the virus generally only lasts a few hours on a surface, though it may be possible for it to last several days under ideal conditions.

COVID-19 symptoms are similar to influenza or other respiratory illnesses. Common symptoms include:

• fever
• cough
• extreme tiredness

Symptom of serious illness include:

• difficulty breathing
• pneumonia

Most people (about 80%) recover without needing special treatment. However, it can cause serious illness in some, and there is a risk of death in severe cases.

While we are still learning about how COVID-19 people who are older or have with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.

If you have symptoms, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions.

There is no specific vaccine for COVID-19 at this time.

The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers around the world now working to develop a vaccine.

Supportive care has been used to treat patients with COVID-19 and some medications are being tested to see if they can help patients with severe disease.

Consult Health Link 811 or your health care provider if you're:

• concerned about your health, or
• feeling ill and recently travelled to an affected area

The risk for Albertans is still considered low at this time. Public health measures are in place to quickly identify potential COVID-19 cases and prevent the infection from spreading.

Prevent the spread

Influenza and other common viruses remain the most likely cause of a respiratory infection.

To protect yourself and others:

• use good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing
• cover coughs and sneezes
• avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
• if you have symptoms, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions

Wearing medical masks

Masks can be very important in certain situations. When sick, wearing a mask helps prevent us from passing illnesses on to other people. This is why we ask people who have a cough or respiratory symptoms to wear a mask and wash their hands when visiting an emergency department or clinic.

• If you are sick, wearing a mask helps prevent passing the illness on to other people.
• If you are healthy, medical masks are not recommended as they don't provide full protection and can create a false sense of security.
• See appropriate infection prevention and control precautions for health-care settings.

To prepare for COVID-19, public health officials recommend the following:

• Create a household action plan. This can include these elements:
  • Talk with the people who need to be included in your plan.
  • Meet with household members, other relatives, and friends to discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.
  • Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications. This includes practical steps like ensuring you have sufficient medication and determining what supplies are needed, and if they can be delivered.
  • Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning.
  • Create a list of local organizations that you and your household can contact in the event you need access to information, health care services, support, and resources.
  • Create an emergency contact list.
• Practice good personal health habits and plan for home-based actions:
  • Practice everyday preventive actions, like those listed in the prevention section.
  • Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy. Identify a separate bathroom for the sick person to use, if possible. Plan to clean these rooms, as needed, when someone is sick.
• Be prepared if your child’s school or childcare facility is temporarily dismissed
• Plan for potential changes at your workplace.
  • Learn about your employer’s emergency operations plan.
  • Ask about what sick-leave policies and telework options are available if needed.
• Stockpiling of goods is not recommended at this time. While it’s always best practice to have three days worth of supplies on-hand, we are not recommending Albertans purchase food or other materials in bulk.
• Resources:
  • Building an emergency kit

You can isolate yourself by following these self-isolation guidelines:

• avoid close contact with other people, especially those with chronic conditions, a compromised immune system, or seniors
• do not attend work, school, social events or any other public gatherings
• watch for symptoms like fever, cough or difficulty breathing in yourself or a family member
• call Health Link 811 for instructions if any symptoms begin

Returning travellers

All Albertans returning from outside Canada should follow the monitoring and self-isolation steps below.

If you develop symptoms, call Health Link 811 for instructions and testing. Do not go to the ER or doctor's office.

Travellers must monitor for symptoms

All travellers returning from outside of Canada, should follow these steps:

• monitor for symptoms such as cough or fever for 14 days
• consider limiting attendance at large public gatherings
• isolate yourself and call Health Link 811 for testing if you:
  • feel ill after returning and/or experience symptoms
  • were in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
  • were in a health-care facility in an affected country

Travellers must self-isolate

All travellers returning from the following locations must self-isolate until 14 days have passed since that trip, even if feeling well:

• Iran
• Italy
• Hubei province, China
• Grand Princess cruise ship

Departing travellers

Travel outside Canada is not recommended for:

• seniors over 65
• people with chronic health conditions

The global risk is rising rapidly and it's difficult to predict which travel destinations may put you at risk. All Albertans should think carefully about their travel plans and possibility of being exposed while traveling.

If you are planning travel outside of Canada, consult the:

• Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Health Advisories page
• World Health Organization's bulletins for updated travel advice

The most important ways to prevent and control respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, in facilities with seniors and other vulnerable groups are:

• Anyone who is sick with fever or cough should not visit loved ones in hospitals, long-term care or other supported living accommodations.
• People in these locations are at the highest risk of complications from both influenza and COVID-19, as well as other respiratory viruses.
• Anyone who is feeling well and not showing symptoms can continue to visit their loved ones in these homes.
• All health-care workers returning from travelling should be assessed by their own Occupational Health Services or AHS Public Health before returning to work (regardless of whether or not they have symptoms).

Alberta public health officials are recommending the following actions as a precaution:

• If a student has visited a Grand Princess Cruise, Iran or China’s Hubei province in the last 14 days, it is recommended that they self-isolate until two weeks have passed since that visit. This is recommended even if they are feeling well.
• Parents should call Health Link 811 for additional precautions and follow-up testing if their children have travelled to anywhere outside of Canada and experienced any of the following:
  • contact with someone who was suspected or confirmed to have the novel coronavirus
  • were in a health-care facility
  • have symptoms, such as cough or fever

If a student does not meet the exposure criteria above, they do not need to stay away from school and they will likely not be tested for COVID-19 as they do not meet the testing criteria. Therefore, requesting that the student provide a physician’s note is not appropriate. For health-related questions or concerns, please call Health Link at 811.

Self-isolation is a precautionary measure and does not mean that the individual is infected with COVID-19. In the event that testing determines an individual is a presumptive or confirmed case, public health officials will immediately connect with any close contacts believed to be at risk. In schools where some students have been identified as close contacts, Alberta Health has not recommended other students be kept home. Health officials will already be ensuring that all appropriate precautions are being taken.

• Albert Health memo to school superintendents - March 3, 2020 (PDF, 48K B)
• Alberta Health memo to parents - March 3, 2020 (PDF, 51 KB)
• Public Health Agency of Canada guidance for schools

Alberta public health officials are recommending the following actions as a precaution:

• If employees have visited a Grand Princess Cruise, Iran or China’s Hubei province in the last 14 days, it is recommended they isolate themselves until two weeks have passed since that visit. This is recommended even if they are feeling well.
• Employees should self-isolate and call Health Link 811 for additional precautions and follow-up testing if they have travelled to anywhere outside of Canada and experienced any of the following:
  • contact with someone who was suspected or confirmed to have the novel coronavirus
  • were in a health-care facility
  • have symptoms, such as cough or fever

If an employee does not meet the exposure criteria above, they do not need to stay away from work, and do not need any testing or a physician’s note to attend work.

If an employee is asked to self-isolate:

• Employees and employers should work together to explore alternate working arrangements. This could include:
  • Working from home or remotely
  • Doing work that does not require the employee to contact other people in the community or at work.
• If an alternate working arrangement is not possible, employees can use paid sick time if their employer offers this.
• Employees may also be able to use five days of sick time without risk of losing their job with the personal and family responsibility leave, but this time is unpaid.
• Employers should consider their business continuity plans, and think about how the possibility of COVID-19 could impact their workplace. In order to prepare, we recommend plans are made to protect employees, limit spread in workplaces, and ensure continuity of critical services if staff are ill or self-isolating.

Resources:

• Respiratory viruses and the workplace: OHS information for employers, supervisors and workers
• Business continuity planning
• WCB COVID-19 worker fact sheet (PDF, 57 KB)
• WCB COVID-19 employer fact sheet (PDF, 70 KB)

Alberta and other provinces are providing advice based on the best current evidence and guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

General public health recommendations in communities if COVID-19 spreads in Canada are available on the Government of Canada website.

If hosting an upcoming event or conference, consider the following:

• Mass gatherings can contribute to the transmission of respiratory pathogens, such as COVID-19.
• Since mass gathering events are generally unique, the advice varies regarding which measures should be undertaken.
• Currently there are no formal restrictions on mass gatherings. Each community or event organizer should undertake a risk assessment to determine what makes sense for them.
• Decisions regarding mass gatherings can be considered on a continuum, including
  • no changes,
  • enhanced communication to attendees,
  • risk mitigation strategies being employed without cancelling the event (such as distancing measures and making hand hygiene supplies available),
  • postponement or cancellation of the event.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada has posted a risk assessment tool.

If helping local organizations plan for a COVID-19 outbreak, consider the following:

• Business continuity planning is vitally important to prepare critical operations for any potential interruption.
• Field officers from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency are available to support municipalities, First Nations and Metis.

Settlements with their emergency management and business continuity planning.

To support the health system, communities should:

• Promote Health Link 811 as a source of information and to refer those with health-related concerns.
• Promote Alberta Labour’s “Respiratory Viruses and the Workplace” for workplace guidance.
• Review existing business continuity plans to assess if disruptions from staff absenteeism have been considered, especially for critical operations.
• Stay informed about the situation in Alberta via the Alberta Health Services or Alberta Health COVID-19 websites.

Resources

• Respiratory viruses and the workplace: OHS information for employers, supervisors and workers
• Business continuity planning