June 11, 2020
RE: COVID-19 Update 60 (New Information in BLUE)
Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership updates will now be release two (2) days a week. All updates moving forward will be released on Tuesday and Thursday of each week, unless urgent messaging comes from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health or Government Officials during their daily updates.
Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partners are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Alberta. The latest Government of Alberta media releases can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx
All Vulcan County Fire Halls are closed to the public until further notice. The municipal offices of Vulcan County, the villages of Arrowwood, Carmangay, Champion, Lomond and Milo remain closed to the public while business operations are continuing. The Town of Vulcan municipal office remains open, however, we are urging the public to use municipal websites, email and telephone to answer their inquiries.
While the number of daily confirmed cases is remaining relatively flat, it is imperative to follow proper personal hygiene and cleaning practices. Please follow these guidelines and watch your municipal websites for further updates.
Everyone, even persons not exhibiting symptoms or requiring mandatory self-isolation, is strongly encouraged to limit outings to a minimum and stay home; observe social distancing and avoid touching your face without first washing your hands.
The Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership has put together a series of videos on COVID-19 related themes:
- Tips for Wearing Masks
- Tips for Washing Hands and Surfaces
- Tips on Public Distancing, Touching Your Face and Wearing Gloves
- When to See the Doctor
- Protect Our Communities
- Here For You
With the confirmation of a confirmed case within our region, please remain vigilant in the practices that have been established.
Cases in Alberta and Vulcan County
The Government of Alberta is taking aggressive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Albertans are asked to be vigilant to prevent intensive care units from being overwhelmed.
For today, 40 new cases have been confirmed bringing the total number of cases to 7,316. There has been a total of 149 fatalities as a result of COVID-19. There have been a total of 6,788 recoveries to date, with 379 active cases. There have been a total of 317,402 tests completed in Alberta.
There is a confirmed case within Vulcan County or the urban municipalities within its region. Vulcan County is in the Calgary Health Zone here 67% of all confirmed Covid-19 infections are located in Alberta.
Alberta uses modelling to anticipate the number of COVID-19 cases over the coming months. Revised modelling was provided on April 28th. This helps us make decisions and prepare hospitals to care for critical and acute patients. A Sprung Field Hospital has been completed at Foothills Hospital should the province realize a spike in Covid-19 hospitalizations.
Alberta Relaunch Strategy – Phase Two
Stage 2 will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations starting June 12 with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place.
Business operators, sport and recreation services can determine if they are ready to open and ensure all guidance for workplaces is met.
What can open with RESTRICTIONS:
- K-12 Schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
- Libraries
- More Surgeries
- Wellness services such as massage, acupuncture, and reflexology
- Personal services (esthetics, cosmetics skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, artificial tanning
- Movie theatres & theatres
- Community Halls
- Team Sports
- Indoor Recreation, fitness and sports, including gyms and arenas
- Pools for leisure
- VLTs in restaurants and bars
- Bingo halls & Casinos (but not table games)
- Instrumental concerts
- Provincial campgrounds at full capacity
Events and Gatherings can be Larger in Stage Two
- 50 people maximum: indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties
- 100 people maximum: outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies
- No cap on the number of people (with public health measures in place):
- worship gatherings
- restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars
- casinos
- bingo halls
- More flexibility for ‘cohort’ groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep 2 metres apart:
- a household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people
- performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers) o sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues) o people could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort.
Still Not Approved in Stage Two:
- Social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums
- Regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12. Classes will resume September 2020
- Vocal concerts (as singing carries a higher risk of transmission)
- Major festivals and concerts, large conferences, trade shows and events (as these are non-seated social events and/or vocal concerts)
- Nightclubs
- Amusement parks
- Hookah lounges (permitted for food and drink only)
- Major sporting events and tournaments
- Non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended – this won’t be lifted until stage 3 of the relaunch strategy
The success of Stage 2 will determine when Alberta progresses to Stage 3. Factors are active cases, health- care system capacity, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) cases, and infection rates.
Canada/US Border Closure
An agreement has been reached between Canada and the United States to keep the border closed to all non-essential travel for another month.
The extension on the existing agreement means that the border restrictions will stay in place until June 21, even as parts of both countries begin gradually reopening. The agreement, as it stands, exempts the flow of trade and commerce, as well as vital health-care workers such as nurses who live and work on opposite sides of the border. Tourists and cross-border visits remain prohibited.
Guidance on Outdoor Activities
With the weather warming up, everyone is eager to go outside for fresh air.
Albertans are encouraged to enjoy outdoor activities, as long as you follow all public health orders to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19.
- Limit outdoor gatherings to no more than 50 people
- Stay home and away from others if exhibiting symptoms
- If participating in activities with people from outside your household or cohort family
- maintain a physical distance of 2 metres at all times
- refrain from sharing equipment
- The Prime Minister announced that the federal government will implement a limited travel exemption at the Canada-U.S. border. This exemption will allow immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to enter the country. The exemption includes spouses, children, parents or guardians. The Prime Minister noted that the 14-day quarantine rule still applies to those entering the country.
- Canadians with disabilities will be sent a one-time tax-free payment of up to $600 to help offset the financial pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new financial aid will go to all who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, as of June 1.
- The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) indicated that it intends to tighten rules for offering mortgage insurance, starting July 1, after forecasting declines of between 9% and 18% in home prices over the next 12 months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Changes include:
- CMHC is establishing a minimum credit score of 680 instead of the current 600;
- CMHC will limit total gross debt servicing ratios to its standard requirement of 35% annual income, compared with the current threshold of 39%.
- CMHC will limit total debt servicing to 42%, compared to the current 44% .
- Health Canada is recalling six types of hand sanitizers sold in Canadian stores that are made with industrial-grade ethanol. The recall, issued on June 6, advises anyone with the products in their home to stop using them immediately and consult a healthcare professional if they experience health concerns.
Alberta
- Today, the provincial government distributed 20 million masks at 600 Tim Hortons, McDonald’s and A&W drive-thrus across Alberta. The Government of Alberta is also planning to supply masks to places of worship, as well as provide another round of 20 million masks in the future.
- On June 6, Alberta Health Services relaxed visitation guidelines at hospitals in Alberta. Details include:
- For outpatient and emergency department/urgent care, patients may now have one person accompany them.
- For acute care settings, patients may now have two people accompany them.
- For end of life situations, two visitors are now permitted if there is sufficient room to allow for physical distancing.
- The Government of Alberta is looking for more landlords to participate in the Alberta-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program, which the province has committed $67-million towards.
811 Health Link
Once again, people experiencing 7symptoms are to take the online self-assessment. As a further reminder, 811-health link is for those who are feeling ill and seeking advice. DO NOT call 811 to report non-compliance of Public Health Orders; these can be reported to the Environmental Health Complaint Link or by calling (403) 943-2288.
If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others
- Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2643
- Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322
Local Programs and Initiatives
Vulcan County – Health & Wellness Foundation
Vulcan – Medical Recruitment
Vulcan Regional Food Bank Society
Above information sourced from:
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70009006E7A24-0CB0-DB76-8FDE7FAC19DBB875