May 21, 2020
RE: COVID-19 Update 54 (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:
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, 33 new cases have been confirmed bringing the total to 6,768. Fatalities resulting from COVID-19 are 132. A total of 225,588 Albertans have been tested. There have been a total of 5,710 recoveries to date.
There continue to be no confirmed cases within Vulcan County or the urban municipalities within its region, although testing has been undertaken for those with symptoms. 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.
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.
Low German Mennonite Community Resource Inventory
Throughout the pandemic response in this province, Alberta Health Services has been maintaining an inventory of resources specifically tailored for the Low German Mennonite Community. To put things in perspective, one fifth of our population base in Vulcan County speaks Low German as a first language.
Barons-Eureka-Warner Family and Community Support Services has a YouTube Channel that covers a wide range of subjects potentially of interest to Low German speakers. There is information on Covid-19 and personal hygiene, as well as other video guides on a wide range of subjects unrelated to the pandemic.
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
Long Term Care, Supportive Living, and Congregate Living
- As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, AHS is taking additional steps to ensure those most at risk of contracting the virus are protected.
- Visitors may not enter any continuing care facility (long-term care or licensed supportive living), except for visits from a designated essential visitor:
- when a resident is dying
- where, in rare situations, the resident’s quality of life or care needs cannot be met without the visitor’s assistance
- Up to two visitors may attend to a resident in a continuing care centre who is at the end of their life. This is defined as up to two weeks before death, but it is understood that estimates are imprecise.
- Visitors must be verified and undergo a health screening prior to entering the facility. They are also required to wear a mask during their visit and maintain physical distancing.
- Residents who are not in isolation may visit outdoors with a designated essential visitor and one other person. However, physical distancing must be practiced and all visitors must wear a mask or some other form of face covering.
- Visits are allowed for patients in maternity care and children who are patients in acute care/outpatient settings.
- Again, visitors must be verified and undergo a health screening prior to entering the facility. They are also required to wear a mask during their visit.
- Families and friends of those in these facilities are encouraged think of how they can support and encourage their loved ones through this difficult time without visiting.
- For more information, visit https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17001.aspx.
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