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
• 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 spreading the disease.
  • Controlling its 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, COVID-19 has resulted in 1 to 2 deaths per 100 cases, compared to 1 death in every 1000 flu cases.
• Because COVID-19 can cause serious illness, it is critical to keep it from spreading by having people with a symptoms stay home, 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 survives for a few hours on a surface, though it may be possible for it to survive several days under ideal conditions.

COVID-19 symptoms are similar to influenza and 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 COVID-19, people who are older or have pre-existing 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 new and different, so needs its own vaccine – which researchers around the world are now working to develop.

Supportive care is being used to treat patients with COVID-19 and some medications are being tested to see if they can help severely ill patients.

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

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

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Alberta has implemented new public health restrictions.

Events

The following mass gatherings should be cancelled:

• Events with more than 50 attendees that involves international participants, critical infrastructure staff, seniors, or other high-risk populations.
• Large events with more than 250 attendees:
  • Includes: sporting events, conferences
  • Does not include: places of worship, grocery stores, airports or shopping centres

Events that do not meet this criteria can proceed, but risk mitigation measures must be in place, such as providing sanitizer stations and distancing between attendees.

See Alberta's complete recommendations for mass gatherings (PDF, 23 KB).

The risk for Albertans remains low at this time, but that may change in the coming weeks. Public health measures are in place to quickly identify potential COVID-19 cases and prevent the infection from spreading.

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

Prevent the spread

All Albertans are encouraged to take personal steps to help prevent the spread.

To protect yourself and others:

• stay home and away from others if sick or in isolation
• wash hands often
• cover coughs and sneezes
• avoid touching face with unwashed hands
• avoid travel outside Canada
• self-isolate for 14 days if returning from travel outside Canada or were exposed to COVID-19

If you have symptoms, like a dry cough, fever, fatigue or difficulty breathing:

• stay home - do not go to an ER or clinic
• check symptoms using the COVID-19 self-assessment tool
• call Health Link 811 for instructions and testing

Wearing medical masks

Masks can be very important in certain situations.

• If you are healthy, medical masks are not recommended as they do not provide full protection and can create a false sense of security.
• If you are sick, wearing a mask helps prevent spreading the illness to other people.

This is why people who have a cough or respiratory symptoms must wear masks and wash their hands when visiting an emergency department or clinic.

Resources

• Infection prevention and control precautions for health-care settings
• Help Prevent the Spread posters

To prepare for COVID-19, public health officials recommend that you:

• Create a household action plan:
  • 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 at greater risk of serious complications, such as 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 you can contact if you need access to information, health care services, support or resources.
  • Create an emergency contact list.
• Practice good personal health habits and plan for home-based actions:
  • Practice everyday preventive actions.
  • Choose a room in your home you can use to separate sick household members from healthy ones. Choose a separate bathroom for sick individuals 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 closed.
• Plan for potential changes at your workplace.
  • Learn about your employer’s emergency operations plan.
  • Ask about what sick-leave policies and work from home options are available.
• Do not stockpile goods at this time. While it’s always best to have 3 days worth of supplies on hand, we are not recommending Albertans purchase food or other materials in bulk.
• Learn how to build an emergency kit.

If you need to self-isolate, follow these 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

See the self-isolation information sheet (PDF, 120 KB) for more information.

Mental health and coping

The COVID-19 pandemic can have a significant impact on Albertans' mental health. Resources are available if you, or someone you know, is struggling or needs a little extra support.

Help Line

The Mental Health Help Line is available 24/7 to provide advice and referrals to community supports near you.

• Call: 1-877-303-2642

Online resources

For helpful advice on handling stressful situations and ways to talk to children.

• Mental health and coping with COVID-19 (CDC)
• Talking with children about COVID-19 (CDC)
• Help in Tough Times (AHS)

Departing travellers

Travel outside Canada is not recommended at this time. Given the rapid global spread of COVID-19, it is no longer possible to assess health risks for the duration of the trip.

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

Returning travellers

Returned before March 12

• Travellers returning from Italy, Iran, China’s Hubei province and the Grand Princess cruise ship should self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms
• Travellers returning from other countries outside Canada should monitor for symptoms for 14 days
• If symptoms develop (cough, fever, fatigue or difficulty breathing), stay home and call Health Link 811 for testing

Returning after March 12

• All travellers returning from outside Canada should self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms
• If symptoms develop (cough, fever, fatigue or difficulty breathing), stay home and call Health Link 811 for testing

If you develop symptoms – cough, fever or difficulty breathing – stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions and testing. Do not go to the ER or doctor's office.

Travel restriction exemptions

Certain professions may be exempt from travel restrictions.

At this time, the following professions have received travel restriction exemptions:

• Flight Attendants
• Pilots

The chief medical officer of health is assessing exemptions on a case-by-case basis based on measures these industries are already taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

To prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19,among seniors and other vulnerable groups:

• Do not visit loved ones in hospitals, long-term care or other supported living facilities if you are sick.
  • People in these locations are at the highest risk of complications from influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses.
  • Anyone feeling well and not showing symptoms can continue to visit loved ones in these locations.
• All health-care workers returning from travel should be assessed by Occupational Health Services or AHS Public Health before returning to work after self-isolating for 2 weeks, even if they don't have symptoms.

Schools and daycares can remain open at this time

The World Health Organization does not recommend school closures as the only way to prevent spread in young children. Given the current situation in Alberta, schools would need to be closed for months, not weeks, to be effective.

Instead, steps should be taken to protect the health of students and staff:

• eliminate large congregations of students
• ensure no more than 250 people are in the same room at any given time
• cancel sports or other extracurricular activities that involve physical contact
• follow guidelines for schools and child care programs (PDF, 918 KB)

Self-isolation in students or staff

Self-isolation does not mean the person is infected with COVID-19. If testing confirms a case, public health officials will immediately contact any close contacts believed to be a risk.

• If a student or teacher has been identified as a close contact, it is not recommended to keep other students at home. Health officials will ensure all appropriate precautions are taken.
• Students who are not identified as needing to self-isolate, do not need to stay home from school and do not meet the testing criteria for COVID-19. Therefore, requesting a doctor’s note is not appropriate.

Resources

• Alberta's guidance for schools and child care programs (PDF, 918 KB)
• Public Health Agency of Canada's guidance for schools
• Alberta Health memo to school superintendents - March 3, 2020 (PDF, 48 KB)
• Alberta Health memo to parents - March 3, 2020 (PDF, 51 KB)

Post-secondary institutions have not been advised to close at this time.

All Albertans are encourage to take personal steps to protect yourself and help prevent the spread:

• stay home if sick
• wash hands often
• cover coughs and sneezes
• avoid touching face with unwashed hands
• follow recommendations to avoid travel outside Canada
• self-isolate for 14 days if returning from travel outside Canada

Employment rules changes

We're acting quickly to protect Albertans by implementing paid, job-protected leave. Details of how these changes will take effect will be provided in the coming days.

Changes to the Employment Standards Code will allow employees to take 14 days of paid, job-protected leave if they are:

• required to self-isolate
• sick or caring for a loved one with COVID-19

To be eligible, employees:

• will not be required to have a medical note
• do not need to have worked for an employer for 90 days

This leave covers the self-isolation period recommended by Alberta’s chief medical officer. We recognize this could put pressure on employers, and are working towards a solution to address these challenges.

Business continuity plans

Employers should consider their business continuity plans and how COVID-19 could impact their workplace. To prepare, make plans to:

• protect employees
• limit spread in workplaces
• ensure continuity of critical services if staff are ill or self-isolating
• explore alternate working arrangements, such as:
  • working from home or remotely
  • doing work that doesn't require contact with other people

Resources

• OHS: Respiratory viruses and the workplace
• Employment standards rules
• Business continuity planning (PDF, 319 KB)
• WCB: COVID-19 worker fact sheet (PDF, 57 KB)
• WCB: COVID-19 employer fact sheet (PDF, 70 KB)
• POSTERS: Help Prevent the Spread

We are providing advice based on current evidence and guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

• Learn more about the federal government’s public health recommendations for communities.

Helping local organizations plan for an outbreak

• Business continuity planning is essential in preparing critical operations for potential interruptions.
• Alberta Emergency Management Agency field officers are available to support municipalities, First Nations and Metis Settlements with their emergency management and business continuity planning.

Supporting the health system

Communities should:

• refer anyone with health-related concerns to Health Link 811 and promote it as a reliable source of information
• promote the Respiratory Viruses and the Workplace guide for workplaces
• review business continuity plans to ensure disruptions from staff shortages have been considered, especially for critical operations
• stay informed about the current situation in Alberta via this web page

Resources

• OHS: Respiratory viruses and the workplace
• Business continuity planning
• Help Prevent the Spread posters